The UAE government has issued a new federal decree law regulating the development, manufacturing, pricing, production and management of medicines in the country.
It aims to regulate the pharmaceutical industry and fast-track the process of authorising new medicines and therapy.
Medical professionals, pharmacies and medical establishments will be penalised for any violations under the new law and their licenses suspended temporarily or cancelled. They could even be closed as a precautionary measure. Medical professionals could also face fines of up to Dh500,000 and medical establishments up to Dh1 million.
Greater uniformity
“As someone who deals with women, nutritional products and surgeries, I see this as a very welcome move, because … there will be uniformity in pricing and uniformity in composition and quality,” said Dr Pooja Jaisal, a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at Fakeeh University Hospital in Dubai.
“Ours is an insurance-based healthcare system, and we don't want gross differences just because of the brand. If there is uniformity, there is less abuse, and I think the patient satisfaction rates will be better. We will have less bias among different healthcare providers.”
When you have different companies, they compete, and there can be those malpractices to make their products cheaper or more lucrative
Dr Pooja Jaisal,
Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai
Dr Jaisal explained that a higher standard for medical products and devices as well as dietary supplements would result in less ambiguity and more ease in prescriptions.
“When you have different companies, they compete, and there can be those malpractices to make their products cheaper or more lucrative,” Dr Jaisal said.
The decree law will establish systems to protect innovations in the pharmaceutical industry and set up regulatory protocols regarding the import, export, distribution and sale of medical products.
New committee
A Pharmaceutical Policies Committee will be established to create policies regarding pricing, circulation and monitoring of medical products. A national policy will also be set up for an inventory of medical products.
The new decree also looks at creating a process to encourage investment and innovation in the UAE’s medical sector as well as having a focus on ensuring that medicines are used in a safe manner, reducing the side effects of medicines.
The decree law will cover pharmacies, marketing firms, biobanks, pharmaceutical consulting companies and laboratories, clinical research organisations and other medical establishments in the UAE, including the free zones.
The new law will apply to drug products, medical devices, healthcare products, pharmaceutical products, dietary supplements, cosmetics among other medical products.
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
