Critically ill patients to get free medicine

MINISTRY SIGNS AGREEMENTS WITH BAYER, ASTRAZENECA TO PROVIDE YEAR’S SUPPLY

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has signed agreements with two pharmaceutical companies — AstraZeneca and Bayer — to provide free medicines to patients with critical illnesses for a year.

People with breast, ovarian and lung cancer, treated with AstraZeneca medicines, and patients with macular degeneration, impaired vision, liver cell carcinoma, differential thyroid cancer and advanced kidney cancer, treated with Bayer medicines, will benefit from the programme.

Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector at the ministry, said the two memoranda of understanding fall under the Year of Zayed initiatives.

“The programmes are in line with the policy of the ministry and its keenness to provide appropriate treatment for patients in line with UAE Vision 2021, which aims to implement a health system based on the highest international standards,” Al Amiri said.

Through the initiative, patients will be able to obtain certain AstraZeneca medicines which are prescribed by caregivers. The number of packages they receive will depend on the patient’s financial capabilities and adherence to treatment plans as prescribed by a physician.

Al Amiri pointed out the initiative provides the appropriate treatment for eligible patients by using sustainable solutions that ensure the continuity of medicines for the patient, and helps doctors follow the best practices in the treatment of patients. The patients are also able to follow up and terminate the treatment according to the specific plan.

Treatment for all

“Re’aya reflects our ongoing commitment to AstraZeneca to provide treatment for low-income patients and our commitment to partner with the Ministry of Health and Prevention for the same,” said Samer Al-Hallaq, Middle East Regional President, AstraZeneca.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Jawad, Director of Operational Markets at Bayer Middle East, referred to the Da’am initiative commending the importance of the MoU in helping to launch patient support programmes to alleviate suffering, especially among the low-income segment of the population.