Articles

Which are the main actors involved in public procurement and tendering? In Saudi Arabia, the main actors in the public procurement and tendering process for pharmaceuticals include: NUPCO (National Unified Procurement Company): Acts as the central purchasing agent for the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Defense, National Guard, and universities. SFDA (Saudi Food and…
1. What are the basic requirements to obtain patent and trademark protection? The basic requirements for obtaining a patent are the following:  Power of attorney granted by the applicant; no legalization nor notarization required Assignment Document legalized by Panamanian Consulate or Apostille Specifications, claims, abstract and drawings (if applicable).  If the applicant is a natural…
Which are the administrations, bodies and institutions in charge of public health in your country and what are their respective responsibilities? The Ministry of Health (MOH) is the primary body responsible for public health in Saudi Arabia. It sets national health policies, issues licenses to healthcare providers (public and private), oversees public hospitals and primary…
A brief overview of the situation regarding traditional medicines and OTC products in Panama. Prepared in association with AFRA, a leading global law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Panama, available to purchase here for GBP 99.   1. What are the regulatory requirements for traditional, herbal, complementary, or alternative medicines and devices?…
1.Please make a general introduction to the public health sector in your country and its organization Saudi Arabia provides universal health coverage primarily funded by the government through a tax-based model. The healthcare system is organized in a tiered structure led by the Ministry of Health (MOH), which operates: • Over 287 public hospitals •…
Which are the health technology assessment (HTA) evaluation bodies and their responsibilities in your country? The primary HTA authority is the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), which hosts a dedicated HTA/Economic Evaluation Unit established in 2023. Its main responsibility is to evaluate clinical and economic evidence (EES) for: New chemical entities Biologics Re-pricing of…
1. What is the authorization process for the marketing of new drugs, biologics, medical devices, over the-counter medications, and other medicinal products? In order to be placed on the Romanian market, a medicinal product needs a marketing authorization, which can be issued by NAMMD at local level (under the national evaluation procedure or under the…
Cannabinoid Drugs 1. Are Cannabinoid Drugs authorized in your country? Cannabinoids are substances subject to national control for therapeutic, medical, veterinary, scientific and research use.    2. What are the regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over Cannabinoid Drugs? The regulatory authorities are the Pharmaceutical and Drug Department from the Ministry of Health and the  Ministry of…
Orphan Drugs in Panama are regulated by Law No. 419 of February 1, 2024, Executive Decree No. 13 of March 1, 2023 and Executive Decree 1217 of December 7, 2015; Rare Diseases are regulated by Law 28 of October 28, 2014.   1. What is the definition of Rare Diseases in your country? Rare, less…
What are the pricing models, processes and principles for originator drugs? Drugs are provided by a medical institution or pharmacy to a patient based on the NHI Drug Price (a patient pays 10%, 20% or 30% (depending on age and other conditions) of the NHI Drug Price). As detailed in Question I. 2. a. above,…