MEA Healthcare in the GCC continues to undergo major transformation with the introduction of government reforms, a shifting demographic and mandatory health insurance. These factors along with increased private sector participation and an ongoing infrastructure boom are poised to drive further growth in healthcare spending in the region – up to…

MENA Amira Younes of AbbVie UAE examines how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for new ways of thinking about delivering regulatory effectiveness and efficiency in the region, and for flexibility from all stakeholders to ensure that therapies continue to reach patients in a timely manner.   Most countries in the…

Saudi Arabia Under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, the country has been activating the private sector’s participation in its healthcare transformation, advancing the public-private partnership (PPP) model to step up the rollout of new and more efficient healthcare infrastructures. After issuing a string of EOIs, the Kingdom’s first hospital PPP project has…

Middle East & Africa The Middle East and Africa (MEA), the fifth-largest regional pharma market in the world, is rapidly becoming a pharmaceutical powerhouse with both global and local firms taking advantage of the region’s population and life expectancy growth as well as greater government funding for healthcare and the progress of universal healthcare…

Saudi Arabia The latest news from the Saudi healthcare and life science industry, including how the implementation of COVID-19 measures have helped reduce the prevalence of MERS-CoV in the country, regulatory approval for Alvotech and Bioventure’s Humira biosimilar, and Open Medical’s new partnership with Tamer Group around digital transformation solutions.   As…

Saudi Arabia Some of the most significant stories coming out of Saudi Arabia’s dynamic pharmaceutical industry, including Spanish firm Cinfa’s decision to reinforce its presence in the country, how Saudi and other Middle Eastern countries are becoming major importers of Korean biomedical products, and the USD 335 million funding injection secured by…

Saudi Arabia Saudi Chemical Company Holding (SCCH), Saudi Arabia’s leading manufacturer of civil and military explosives, has been expanding its pharma sector footprint in recent years. Today, the company has capabilities across pharma distribution through SITCO Pharma, manufacturing (both for its own products and as a contract manufacturing organisation (CMO)) via AJA…

MEA Seasoned executive Mohamed Nasser currently oversees 16 markets for Amgen across the MEA region, including its most important – Saudi Arabia. He shares some of the key skills that pharma executives overseeing his region need to succeed.   As region head for a company that is only 40 years old,…

Saudi Arabia While Saudi Arabia is becoming an increasingly attractive investment destination for global pharma, some stakeholders continue to have concerns about whether the country’s intellectual property (IP) protection system is truly fit for purpose.   Oscar Delgado of BMS is one such stakeholder. “An adequate IP system, including regulatory data protection…

Saudi Arabia Before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman assumed office in 2017, Saudi Arabian women had only a marginal presence in the Kingdom’s labour force. However, since then notable milestones achieved include granting women the right to drive, access to sports, a first female ambassador, freedom to travel, the right to live…

Saudi Arabia The Saudi medtech market was valued at USD 2.25 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 3.87 billion at a CAGR of 9.5 percent by 2023, according to Market Research Future. Like other parts of the Saudi healthcare continuum, the country’s medtech industry is extremely dynamic and changing…

Saudi Arabia Historic Saudi healthcare firm Tamer Group has transitioned from a distributor into one of the country’s leading fully-fledged pharmaceutical companies since the 1990s, aided in large part by strategic partnerships with leading Japanese firms. With the family-owned firm seeking further progression, Chairman and Managing Partner Aymen Tamer highlights his vision…