Bahrain Upgrades Pharma Regulation System, Cuts Processing Time

Manama: Bahrain’s National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) has introduced enhancements to its service for updating registered medicines, as part of wider government efforts to improve service quality and streamline procedures.

The upgraded system is designed to improve the customer experience for pharmaceutical companies by simplifying how medicine data is updated, while maintaining strict regulatory standards for product safety, quality and efficacy.

Under the revised process, approval timelines have been reduced. Major changes to registered medicines will now take 40 working days, down from 45 days, while minor changes will be processed within 7 working days.

Applications are submitted electronically through the Adweya system, where documents are uploaded, fees are paid and approvals are issued following review.

The NHRA said it has also strengthened review procedures, reduced the number of required approvals and unified service information across platforms, improving both efficiency and transparency.

Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Ansari, Chief Executive of NHRA, said the development reflects the authority’s commitment to enhancing institutional performance through modern technologies and aligning with global best practices in pharmaceutical regulation.

He added that the improvements aim to reduce time and effort for pharmaceutical companies while ensuring the safe and efficient circulation of medicines in the market.

The initiative is part of broader government reforms, which have seen more than 1,300 services documented and published, with around 800 currently undergoing development and re-engineering across sectors.

Authorities said these efforts are guided by feedback collected through the Tawasul platform, investor input and service evaluations, contributing to improved efficiency, transparency and digital transformation across government services.