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The Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates has approved 18 comprehensive recommendations aimed at strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical and medical supplies sector, focusing on national security for pharmaceutical industries and strategic healthcare preparedness. During its third session of the 18th Legislative Term held on January 7, 2026, the council discussed government policy on achieving national security for pharmaceutical industries and medical supplies in the presence of Minister of Health and Prevention Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh and Minister of State Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, Chairman of the Emirates Pharmaceutical Industries Corporation.
The recommendations will be forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and implementation. The council’s discussions centered on three main pillars: sustainability of pharmaceutical industries and medical supplies, enhancing access to medicines and medical supplies, and legislation that promotes investment and innovation while ensuring quality in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Strategic Stockpiling and Pharmaceutical Industries Development
A key recommendation calls for strategic stockpiling of active pharmaceutical ingredients sufficient for at least five years, according to the council’s statement. This initiative would involve collaboration with the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector and establishing long-term partnerships with major producing countries including China, India, and Brazil to achieve pharmaceutical security.
Additionally, the council recommended directing national pharmaceutical factories toward specialized production with priority given to innovative biological medicines. This would be accomplished through partnerships with international manufacturers as a first phase, followed by transferring manufacturing technology domestically to strengthen local capabilities.
Supporting Local Pharmaceutical Products
The recommendations emphasize giving locally manufactured medical products priority in government tenders, according to the council’s decision. Insurance companies would be encouraged to include locally produced medical products within their medical coverage to enhance market penetration and support the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
Furthermore, the council recommended adopting the scientific name of medicines in medical prescriptions rather than commercial names. This approach aims to promote national pharmaceutical products and reduce dependency on branded medications while maintaining quality standards.
Workforce Development and Research Capabilities
The council called for establishing specialized national institutes and developing academic and practical programs in pharmaceutical manufacturing professions. This would be achieved through enhanced partnerships between universities and the pharmaceutical industries sector to identify actual needs for technical specializations not currently available in academic institutions.
A comprehensive strategy for attracting Emirati talent to the pharmaceutical industries sector was recommended, including scholarships, training programs, and financial and tax incentives for companies employing high percentages of citizens. The recommendations also emphasized awareness programs highlighting the importance of pharmaceutical professions and their future prospects in supporting national health and economic security.
Research Infrastructure and Innovation Support
The council recommended establishing advanced laboratories and research centers to support research and development in pharmaceutical industries through collaborative programs involving government, universities, and pharmaceutical companies. The proposal references the National Institutes of Health model in the United States as an example of providing an integrated research environment.
According to the recommendations, specialized research funding pools should be created to support innovation in the pharmaceutical sector through business incubator programs. The council also called for establishing a unified national data platform to enhance cooperation between government entities, academic institutions, hospitals, and pharmaceutical manufacturers for tracking medicine availability and improving government procurement.
Regulatory Enhancements and Market Access
The recommendations address legislative measures to enhance investment and innovation in pharmaceutical industries and medical supplies. The council emphasized including locally manufactured generic medicines within products eligible for fast-track marketing approval under Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024, which would accelerate market entry while ensuring safety and affordability.
Furthermore, establishing a national harmonization unit within the Emirates Pharmaceutical Industries Corporation was recommended to strengthen cooperation with regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EMA. This would facilitate mutual recognition agreements enabling faster approvals and international market acceptance of locally manufactured medicines.
Pricing and Safety Measures
The council called for reducing medicine prices, particularly innovative drugs, through coordination with global pharmaceutical companies that have chosen the UAE as their regional headquarters. Public awareness campaigns modeled after Singapore’s approach were recommended to warn against purchasing medicines from unauthorized sources and promote use of licensed pharmacies and websites.
The recommendations will now proceed to the Cabinet for review and potential implementation as part of the UAE’s broader strategy to strengthen pharmaceutical security and enhance the healthcare sector’s resilience and self-sufficiency.
