Emirates Drug Establishment Sets New Regulatory Practices For UAE's Pharmaceutical Sector

The Board of Directors of the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) convened its fourth meeting since its inception at the end of last year. The meeting aimed to review and develop key initiatives for regulating and managing the UAE’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. These efforts are intended to bolster the UAE’s reputation as a global and regional hub for the medical industry.

Chaired by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the EDE, the meeting included notable attendees such as Dr. Maha Tayseer, Deputy Chairperson of the Board, Dr. Fatima Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, Director General of the EDE, and board members Dr. Issa Abdul Fattah Kazim, Badr Saleem Al Ulama, Dr. Amer Ahmed Sharif, Dr. Farhan Malak, and Professor Chris Evans. Ahmed Al Rumaithi also joined the Board as a representative of the UAE’s youth.

The Board discussed plans for establishing various specialized committees aimed at enhancing the EDE’s operational efficiency. They also reviewed developments regarding the integration of activities across relevant government agencies and services. This includes transferring supervision of over 160 services from the Ministry of Health and Community Prevention and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to the EDE.

Strategic Goals

Dr. Thani stated that the EDE is working towards creating a fully integrated organizational structure to regulate and manage all healthcare and pharmaceutical activities in the UAE. The objective is to elevate standards, drive innovation, and stimulate cooperation in advanced research to align with global best practices.

Al Zeyoudi remarked, "We are focused on developing the institutional, organizational, and administrative structure of the EDE. This will support integrating relevant government agencies and services into our mandate. Our goal is to enhance the UAE’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sector in line with global standards."

Operational Enhancements

Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Director General of the EDE, highlighted ongoing efforts to implement previous recommendations from the Board of Directors. These include establishing an organizational structure and appointing a skilled team to oversee healthcare standards improvement in the country.

Al Kaabi stated, "The EDE is working to establish its organizational structure that will help us achieve our strategic goals. This will elevate standards and accelerate the expansion of our country’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, increasing their contribution to the well-being of UAE citizens and sustainable economic growth."

Board Formation

The UAE Cabinet approved forming the Board of Directors for the Emirates Drug Establishment in December 2023. The board will serve a three-year term overseeing the federal institution’s mandate to regulate and manage all medical products at a national level.

Jurisdiction Scope

The institution’s jurisdiction extends across the entire country, including free zones, covering a wide range of products such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare products, nutritional supplements, cosmetics, veterinary preparations, fertilizers, agricultural conditioners, plant growth regulators, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.

The Council of Ministers’ decree law also permits including any other medical products under its jurisdiction.

With inputs from WAM