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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
Ebn Sina Medical (ESM), one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals in Qatar, is doing much better after the blockade began nearly three years ago, than it did before, the company’s officials have said.
Bearing in mind that Ebn Sina Medical (ESM) is responsible for supplying about half of Qatar’s medicines at government and private healthcare facilities, the company embraced local manufacturers, got new suppliers from different parts of the world and has been able to increase the buffer stock.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Ebn Sina Medical (ESM) kick off meeting, its General Manager Sherif Shehata said: “We improved our stock level for up to six months and started supporting hospitals with our stock although they still had their own. I don’t think anyone in Qatar has faced shortage of any medicine since the blockade started.”
He said the medicines they were getting from the blockading countries earlier, were replaced by supplies from other countries including Turkey, Switzerland, Germany and the US.
“We are not much affected by what happened.”
Sales Manager Ebn Sina Medical (ESM), Saad Zayan said the blockade was a blessing in disguise for the local manufacturers.
“This chance was not there before the blockade. This gave chance to the local suppliers to compete in the sector. In Qatar, we were responsible for the availability of medicines and we ensured there was no shortage.”
The blockade, he noted, helped them to get to the markets they had not ventured into such as Turkey and Spain. The local manufactures also substituted all these medications.
Private and Institution Director of Sales Mohammed El Misry said that immediately after the blockade began, they chalked out a strategy to find alternatives to companies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
They approached local suppliers as well as generic and non-generic companies in Europe. “We managed to get the suppliers to supply the medicines. It was a great opportunity for us to support Qatar during this time,” he said.
“We are focusing more on generic companies from the UK, Germany, the US, and other places. We normally keep a high buffer stock that can cover us for one year.”
DOHA
Ebn Sina Medical (ESM), one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals in Qatar, is doing much better after the blockade began nearly three years ago, than it did before, the company’s officials have said.
Bearing in mind that Ebn Sina Medical (ESM) is responsible for supplying about half of Qatar’s medicines at government and private healthcare facilities, the company embraced local manufacturers, got new suppliers from different parts of the world and has been able to increase the buffer stock.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Ebn Sina Medical (ESM) kick off meeting, its General Manager Sherif Shehata said: “We improved our stock level for up to six months and started supporting hospitals with our stock although they still had their own. I don’t think anyone in Qatar has faced shortage of any medicine since the blockade started.”
He said the medicines they were getting from the blockading countries earlier, were replaced by supplies from other countries including Turkey, Switzerland, Germany and the US.
“We are not much affected by what happened.”
Sales Manager Ebn Sina Medical (ESM), Saad Zayan said the blockade was a blessing in disguise for the local manufacturers.
“This chance was not there before the blockade. This gave chance to the local suppliers to compete in the sector. In Qatar, we were responsible for the availability of medicines and we ensured there was no shortage.”
The blockade, he noted, helped them to get to the markets they had not ventured into such as Turkey and Spain. The local manufactures also substituted all these medications.
Private and Institution Director of Sales Mohammed El Misry said that immediately after the blockade began, they chalked out a strategy to find alternatives to companies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
They approached local suppliers as well as generic and non-generic companies in Europe. “We managed to get the suppliers to supply the medicines. It was a great opportunity for us to support Qatar during this time,” he said.
“We are focusing more on generic companies from the UK, Germany, the US, and other places. We normally keep a high buffer stock that can cover us for one year.”
