The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MOHAP, has recently signed an agreement with the Neopharma Factory to provide medical stocks used for emergency situations, including 103 types of pharmaceutical products, to further enhance the country's health security following the issuance of Ministerial Resolution No. 39 of 2015.

Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary of Public Health Policy and Licensing of MOHAP, accompanied by Dr. Abdul Karim Abdullah Al Zarouni, Director of the Department of Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Operations, signed the agreement on behalf of the ministry, while Suresh Kumar Nandirajo, Chief Operating Officer Neopharma, signed for the company.

Dr. Al Amiri said that MOHAP continuously strengthens its medicine supply by signing agreements with drug manufacturers following the Ministerial Resolution No. 39 of 2015. "The agreement with Neopharma is part of our efforts to improve health and medical security and enable us to immediately respond to emergencies through the acquisition of strategic medical stocks for the ministry's stores. This covers our requirements for one year, including stocks for three months that are available in the form of finished goods, while the remaining quantity will be in the form of raw materials that will be used in the medicines’ manufacturing process," he added.

He emphasised that the ministry works towards building quality and safety systems for treatment, health and medicine in accordance with international standards and envisions to promote a healthy society, by providing comprehensive and innovative health services.

The ministry implements a regulatory and auditor role in the health sector following an advanced and integrated health legislative system. He added that the support and partnership with pharmaceutical manufacturers such as NeoPharma contribute to the promotion and sustainability of healthcare infrastructure.

Dr. Al Zarouni explained that the agreement also sets a mechanism for recycling stocks and continually offers fresh goods to consumers while maintaining the overall stock quantity required. The ministry is responsible for storing and preserving medical inventories according to the global storage and recycling standards.

The list of medicines included in the agreement comprise a total of 103 drug categories, including 27 for the treatment of infections, 22 for diseases of the ear nose and throat, 13 types of medicines for the treatment of respiratory diseases, 9 items for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, 9 for chronic diseases, 8 of gastrointestinal illnesses, 6 for the urinary tract, gynecology and obstetrics, 4 for blood diseases and malnutrition, 4 for bone diseases and 1 medicine for diseases of the nervous system.