Bahrain: Health services in Bahrain are set to receive a boost with a pharmaceutical factory already being given the green light to start operations and requests for three more plants under evaluation, it has been revealed.

The drugs manufacturing company, Bahrain Pharma, is in its phase of production while investors from the GCC, India and Kazakhstan are behind the three new joint ventures with Bahraini investors, National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) chief executive Dr Mariam Al Jalahma told the GDN.

She also said the authority had received 47 applications in the past three months to set up hospitals or medical centres in Bahrain.

More investments are expected with the easing of laws that now allow non-medical related individuals to pump money in the health sector, which was earlier restricted to doctors or pharmacists.

However, new establishments will continue to be obliged to have doctors or pharmacists in managerial roles.

Dr Al Jalahma was upbeat about the future of the health sector.

“In three months alone, and in less than a year after easing legislation, we have received 47 requests for new hospitals and medical centres, have one pharmaceutical factory in its first phase of operations, with three international firms requesting authorisation,” she said.

“Existing services provided by us like issuing medical and medicine licences, permits and certificates don’t cover costs and we are studying options with the Finance Ministry to ensure that.

“But, again, it will require changes in law.”

She said that medicines in Bahrain were now being sold at reasonable rates after the GCC unified the prices.

“The prices have been made close to the Saudi market, which is the cheapest, and the Cabinet has issued a decision that all medicines below BD20 should be at maximum 35 per cent profitability and those above BD20 should be 25pc in profits,” said Dr Al Jalahma.

“Mother companies complaining that they are losing money can’t give that excuse anymore, because transportation and authorisation charges to the GCC are the same,” she said.

“Any complaint about tampering with prices should be brought to our attention immediately so that swift action can be taken.”

Dr Al Jalahma said there is a ban on selling medicines on the Internet with sellers in most cases offering Grade A counterfeit products.

“The original medicine is available in Bahrain and is many times cheaper, but some people prefer buying online thinking it is cheaper or because it is being sold in an appealing way,” she said.

“We have urged Customs to allow us to open a parcel that may contain pharmaceutical products, just to make sure.

“Advertising of medicines, except simple ones like paracetamol which is sold at cold stores, is allowed with our consent and anyone posting anything else will face legal action.”

She said requests for new medicines were being sought from NHRA.

“A medicine’s ingredients, dosage and composition are the mother company’s right for 20 years; afterwards companies can start manufacturing it under other brand names, but before it enters the market we have to make sure it is safe and that it matches international standards.”

mohammed@gdn.com.bh