India and UAE in Talks to Address Pricing Norms for Medical Supplies

 

India and the UAE are currently in high-level talks to address pricing norms in the Gulf nation that have acted as a barrier to Indian generic drugs and vaccine exports. The UAE, along with other high and middle-income countries in Europe and the Gulf region, use an External Reference Pricing (ERP) policy, where policy makers specify a basket of countries whose prices are used to inform the price of medical supplies in the country.

While this policy is aimed at ensuring fair pricing for medical supplies, it has also had the unintended consequence of limiting access to affordable healthcare for those in need. India, as a major exporter of generic drugs and vaccines, has been impacted by the UAE's pricing norms. As a result, discussions between the two nations are timely and significant.

Access to affordable healthcare is a basic human right, and it's crucial that policies and pricing norms do not act as barriers to that right. Collaboration between nations is essential to ensure equitable access to healthcare globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of affordable and accessible healthcare, making India and the UAE's discussions all the more significant.

As the world grapples with the pandemic, it's more important than ever to ensure that access to healthcare is not limited by pricing policies. While the UAE's ERP policy is an important step, it's crucial to ensure that it prioritizes affordability for all. Discussions between India and the UAE are a step in the right direction, and we hope to see more collaboration between nations to ensure access to healthcare for all.