Tagged with MENA,

UAE Patrick van der Loo oversees Pfizer’s operations across the vast Middle East, Russia and Africa (MERA) region. In a wide-ranging and insightful conversation, van der Loo outlines the company’s approach to driving access to innovation in emerging markets and resource-constrained environments, including engaging in public-private partnerships where possible. He also…

UAE Saleh Al Hashimi of the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation (DHIC) gives an overview of the evolution of mandatory health insurance in Dubai over the past decade, with the number of residents under universal health coverage expanding from 500,000 to 4.5 million. Al Hashimi also touches on how the Emirate’s move…

Saudi Arabia The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has joined the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S), aimed at harmonising inspection procedures worldwide. Through PIC/S membership the SFDA looks to continue bolstering its capabilities and further its international collaboration efforts.   SFDA’s accession to PIC/S is one of the strategic projects of…

UAE Ramy Koussa shares the passion and vision of focused women’s health player Organon in the MENAT region, how the organisation has adapted and improved to better serve women in the region in its first two years of operation as an independent company, and why multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaboration are crucial…

UAE Amr Seif outlines Astellas’ progress into becoming a focused oncology speciality player in the Middle East and Africa, in line with the company’s global Corporate Strategic Plan 2021 (CSP2021). He also touches on key market trends in MEA, including regulatory developments, the rise of private insurance, and the growing importance…

UAE 16-year Gilead veteran, Vítor Papão, recently left Europe to take on a new role within the company as general manager of the vast Middle East & Russia cluster. He discusses the particularities of the region, and the partnerships and initiatives Gilead is actively pursuing with local stakeholders.   We have…

Africa The third and final piece in Lenias Hwenda of Medicines for Africa’s series looking back at the challenges and successes of HIV/AIDS treatments over the past 40 years and potential medical breakthroughs to come (read part one here and part two here). Here, Hwenda examines the persistent challenge of HIV/AIDS…

MENA Amira Younes of AbbVie UAE examines how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for new ways of thinking about delivering regulatory effectiveness and efficiency in the region, and for flexibility from all stakeholders to ensure that therapies continue to reach patients in a timely manner.   Most countries in the…

Saudi Arabia Under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, the country has been activating the private sector’s participation in its healthcare transformation, advancing the public-private partnership (PPP) model to step up the rollout of new and more efficient healthcare infrastructures. After issuing a string of EOIs, the Kingdom’s first hospital PPP project has…

UAE As a part of its continued digitalisation efforts, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the region’s first pharmaceutical track-and-trace system, Tatmeen. With the new system, which will monitor each stage of drug production, the country aims to boost transparency, eliminate the sale of counterfeit medicines, build trust in the…

UAE A roundup of the latest pharma news from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) including Julpher’s pursuit of its growth strategy with a new CEO, Global Pharma’s tech transfer deal with Egypt’s Nerhado and Pharma Solutions’ procurement of its first thalassemia generic.   AstraZeneca announces move to Dubai Science Park with…

Africa In the first of a series looking back at the challenges and successes of HIV/AIDS treatments over the past 40 years and potential medical breakthroughs to come, Lenias Hwenda of Medicines for Africa shares her personal meditations on the HIV pandemic, the impact of expanded access to antiretroviral therapy, and…