Dr. Khalid Al Awadhi, the Head of the Pharmacies Owners & Importers Society, has identified several factors contributing to Bahrain’s ongoing medicine shortages. One key factor is the influx of cheaper generic alternatives once a drug’s patent expires, which can be up to eight times less expensive than the original. This flood of generics can lead to shortages as companies prioritize more profitable markets over Bahrain.
The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) plays a role in maintaining strict price negotiations, which can deter generics from entering the market. Dr. Al Awadhi believes that the upcoming national health insurance programme could help alleviate the situation by allowing private companies to support public health and increase revenue. He also criticized the outdated profit margin formula, unchanged since 1976, which has made it difficult for pharmaceutical firms to thrive in Bahrain.
Price adjustments in the pharmaceutical market have not been made for over a quarter-century, leading to challenges for companies operating in Bahrain. Dr. Al Awadhi highlighted that Bahrain’s medicine prices lag behind its Gulf neighbours, making it tough for companies to justify their presence in the country. He also mentioned that the stringent requirements, such as costly international certifications, pose barriers for generic companies trying to enter the market.
Financial strain on pharmaceutical companies in Bahrain is further exacerbated by the requirement of 500 dinars to register each Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) for every drug size. Dr. Al Awadhi emphasized the importance of balancing the availability of essential medicines with their safety. While urgent medicines are still available, some necessary standbys have almost disappeared, which is concerning for specific patient groups, such as those with hearing disorders.
Dr. Al Awadhi dismissed rumors about private hospitals steering patients towards their in-house pharmacies as baseless. He clarified that patients have the freedom to choose their preferred pharmacies and are not compelled to purchase medicines at inflated prices from hospital pharmacies. To address the medicine shortage issue, he suggested implementing measures like greater pricing flexibility and reducing the financial burden on manufacturers to register medicines at high costs.
In conclusion, Dr. Al Awadhi called for support from the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to assist Bahraini pharmacy owners. As more Bahraini graduates aspire to own pharmacies as a stable career, creating a fairer playing field for local entrepreneurs is crucial. Supporting Bahraini pharmacy owners could help level the playing field against foreign firms and nurture home-grown talent in the pharmaceutical sector.
