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GCC tenders for medicine amount to $665m

ABU DHABI - The value of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tenders for joint drugs purchase has amounted to $665 million in 2006, according to an official report.

The GCC bids for collective drugs purchase witnessed a significant increase of about $84.5 million compared to 2005 tenders, said the statistical report.

It said the tenders included pharmaceutical products, vaccines, hospitals, laboratories and blood transfusions supplies, medical rehabilitation, oral hygiene and dentistry supplies and some chemicals.

“The UAE ranks second in terms of GCC joint drugs purchase tenders for 2005 following Saudi Arabia,” said the report.

It mentioned that UAE products that participated in the GCC tenders were estimated at 480 different products representing around 39 per cent of the total products showcased in 2005 bids in the member states.

“Out of these products, 15 per cent were vaccines, 33 per cent were hospitals supplies, 28 per cent were oral hygiene and dentistry requirements and seven per cent were medical laboratories and blood transfusions services supplies”, detailed the report. Three per cent of the products that took part in the tenders were requirements for rehabilitating people with special needs, added the report.

Meanwhile, the GCC joint tenders committees will hold six meetings in Abu Dhabi to prepare 2007 tenders and develop the manual on GCC unified tenders for 2007.