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Times of Oman
07-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Investment in pharmaceutical industry sector in Dhofar stands at OMR90 million
Salalah: Dhofar Governorate boasts remarkable development in the field of localizing pharmaceutical industries and medical supplies. The drive is aimed to secure the availability of medical drugs in the Sultanate of Oman and meet the needs of the local and regional markets. Investments to this effect stand at RO 90 million. Ibrahim Nasser Al Rashdi, Director General of the Drug Safety Centre at the Ministry of Health, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that pharmaceutical industry in Dhofar Governorate is burgeoning through three major pharmaceutical factories that help contribute to the needs of the health sector and diminish dependence on imports. Al Rashdi said that Dhofar pharmaceutical industries unit in Raysut Industrial City, inaugurated in September 2024, was set up at a total cost of more than RO 15 million. The unit, he explained, is one of the pharmaceutical projects specialized in producing intravenous solutions and dialysis solutions using advanced technologies in accordance with the highest international quality standards. He added that the unit in Raysut Industrial City, built on an area of 22,000 square metres, meets the needs of the local market for pharmaceutical solutions, which contributes to achieving drug security in the Sultanate of Oman, the Middle East and North Africa. The factory has an annual production volume of 15 million units of intravenous solution, along with 2.3 million units of kidney dialysis solutions, said Al Rashdi, noting that the factory meets the demand of the Omani health sector, thanks to its output estimated at 5 million units a year. Speaking about another unit, Oman Pharmaceutical Industries Company factory, Al Rashdi said that the company has been one of the most prominent pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Sultanate of Oman since its establishment in 2001. The factory has a cumulative investment volume of RO 35 million. Based in Raysut Industrial City in Salalah, the company aims to enhance the local pharmaceutical industry and provide high-quality pharmaceutical products to the Omani and global markets, Al Rashdi added. He added that Oman Pharmaceutical Industries Company's factory produces a wide range of medicines, including antibiotics, hormones, topical preparations, effervescent tablets and solid and liquid pharmaceutical forms. The unit's products are exported to more than 45 countries around the world, including the United States and Europe, which affirms its commitment to international quality standards, he explained. Al Rashidi pointed out that Raysut Industrial City includes a factory specialized in the production of medical supplies like gloves, medical masks and respirators. The unit has an investment value of approximately RO 5 million, said Al Rashdi, noting that the unit is capable of meeting the needs of the local and GCC health sectors. Al Rashdi said that Salalah Medical Supplies Manufacturing Company was established in 1997 and that the company's factory is also located in Raysut Industrial City on an area of 18,000 square metres. He added that the factory's products include supplying a wide range of medical gloves, masks, cotton, bandages and adhesive tapes. The unit provides and distributes its products within the Sultanate of Oman and exports them to other GCC states. Speaking about pharmaceutical industry in Salalah Free Zone, Al Rashdi said that investment in the Felix Pharmaceutical Industries factory is estimated at RO 35 million. The objective is to transform the Salalah Free Zone into a regional hub for pharmaceutical and biological industries, thus contributing to achieving drug security in the Sultanate of Oman and GCC states. Al Rashdi added that the factory seeks to produce more than 100 pharmaceutical products, including antivirals, as well as heart disease medications and vaccines in later stages. The production capacity of the first phase is expected to reach one billion tablets and one billion capsules a year, he explained. It's worth noting that the Sultanate of Oman seeks to enhance drug security by encouraging national and international investments in the medical industry. This aims to diminish dependence on drug imports and increase production to meet local needs in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
Times of Oman
07-04-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
Use of AI in pharmacy practices to be discussed at Muscat forum
Muscat: Oman International Pharmacy Congress and Exhibition (OIPCX) Regional Forum, organised by the Ministry of Health's Directorate General of Medical Supplies, kicked off on Monday. The event is held under the theme From Cost to Value Based Health Care 'Integrating Clinical Aduits and Pharmacoeconomics Evidence for Healthcare Optimisation'. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health. Pharmacist Ibrahim Nasser Al Rashdi, Director General of Medical Supplies and Congress Chair, highlighted in his speech the significance of the event being one of the most prominent scientific activities in the region. It brings together a group of experts and speakers from various fields, with the aim to develop the pharmacy profession and enhancing the exchange of experiences between countries in the region. Al Rashdi pointed out that the current edition of the congress has expanded its scope to include vital areas such as the use of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practices, the digital transformation of pharmaceutical care services, drug economics, health technology assessment, clinical auditing, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical education development, and enhancing drug safety, especially in critical cases, to ensure patient safety. He noted that one of the important areas of the forum is the exchange of experiences in the field of health economics. Arab and GCC experiences in building foundations and programmes for health economics were presented, including: the Sultanate of Oman's experience, represented by the Ministry of Health, in developing methodological guidelines for health technology assessment and the process of evaluating high-cost drug approval requests; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's experience in managing medications for rare diseases and implementing value-based healthcare; and Jordan's experience in Hospital-Based HTA Program in the King Hussein Cancer Center. At the end of the opening, the patron of the event took a tour of the exhibition that featured a showcase by global pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, alongside prominent pharmacies in the Sultanate of Oman. The exhibition also included leading companies from the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. The three-day forum brings together over 600 healthcare professionals, with 46 esteemed international, Gulf, and local speakers. It will also feature 43 scientific papers, 13 of which are from Oman, exploring the latest advancements in pharmaceutical practices and drug research. Furthermore, the event includes five general workshops and four specialised workshops focusing on health economics, providing a comprehensive platform for knowledge sharing and professional development.
