Cut med prices to GCC level

TDT | Manama

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Many citizens and residents are forced to buy medicines abroad as prices soar here. MPs say this calling for medicine prices in the kingdom to match those in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, saying rising and uneven costs are pushing citizens and residents to neighbouring states, particularly Saudi Arabia, to find cheaper medicines. The proposal seeks firmer controls to give patients clearer, steadier pricing at home.

MP Bader Al Tamimi said aligning prices would save citizens and residents from crossing borders to buy medicines and would provide patients with more predictable costs.

The proposal was tabled by Al Tamimi along with MPs Hamad Al Doy, Najeeb Al Kuwari, and Mohammed Al Rafai. It seeks firmer control so that patients pay broadly the same as in other GCC states, taking import costs into account.

Unanimous

After reviewing the proposal, the Services Committee unanimously recommended approval, citing the public interest in stronger oversight, improved pharmacy services, and fairer access for low-income families. Supporters argue the law would reduce price gaps, ease the financial burden on households, and spare patients the need to shop around.

Regulators differ

Regulators, however, said prices are already governed by law. Industry reports show medicine prices have fallen by up to 70 per cent since 2014.

The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) warned the plan would be difficult to implement, noting that Bahrain already prices medicines under Article 86 of Decree-Law No. 18 of 1997 and Decision No. 32 of 2020. These rules link profit to import cost, set ceilings by category, and use unified GCC lists or official import invoices (CIF). The NHRA also conducts routine inspections and ensures the same shelf price across pharmacies, factoring in whether a product is an originator or generic and when it was registered.

Pharmacies disagree

The Pharmacies Owners & Importers Society said the goal is already being met, pointing to price drops of up to 70 per cent since 2014. It called for ongoing reviews rather than a fixed cap and warned that large pharmacy chains face financial strain, with some nearing insolvency.

Al Tamimi said rising and uneven prices had pushed some citizens and residents to buy medicines abroad. Firmer control, he added, would give patients steadier, clearer pricing.