Source: Prime Minister’s Office
On Monday, Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak inspected the operations at the Supreme Authority for Medicines and Medical Supplies in the temporary capital, Aden. He emphasized the regulatory role of the Authority in organizing the production and importation of medicines, ensuring their quality and pricing, encouraging national pharmaceutical industries, and combating drug smuggling.
Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was received by Dr. Qasim Buhaibeh, Minister of Public Health and Population, and Dr. Abdul Qader al-Bakri, the Executive Director of the Authority. Dr. al-Bakri briefed him on the efforts of the Authority in implementing its responsibilities, which include drafting pharmaceutical policies, regulating, inspecting, and ensuring the compliance of medicines with regional and international standards and specifications. He also highlighted the Authority’s developmental plans and programs, including staff training and promoting local pharmaceutical industries.
Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak toured several departments and sections within the Authority, visited its affiliated laboratories, and reviewed the services provided for drug safety testing, as well as procedures related to importation, regulation, and inspection.
The Prime Minister also reviewed the ongoing construction phase of a reference Quality Control Laboratory for Medicines, which the Authority is implementing with funding from itself. This laboratory will house multiple labs dedicated to drug quality and medicinal plant testing. He stressed the importance of completing this vital project, equipping it with modern equipment according to international standards and those of the World Health Organization, and addressing all obstacles to ensure it can fulfill its role.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Public Health and the Supreme Authority for Medicines to coordinate with relevant entities to reorganize and regulate the medical and pharmaceutical sector, correct discrepancies, intensify efforts to protect consumers from counterfeit and smuggled drugs, verify drug quality and efficacy, and enhance the Authority’s role in encouraging investment in the pharmaceutical sector and expanding the base of national drug production.
