Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and Axios Health Education Services for implementation of the initiative to support patients who cannot financially afford to purchase part of their medications and who do not have a coverage system that includes the cost of the prescribed medications. The purpose of this MoU is to treat the relapses of some tumors and coloenteritis, as well as to improve patient commitment to the treatment plan prescribed by the attending physician.

His Excellency Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policies and Licensing, signed the MoU on behalf of the MOHAP, in the presence of Dr. Ruqaya Al Bastaki, the Director of MOHAP’s Drug Department. while Mr. Takafumi Horii, the General Manager for the Middle East, signed on behalf of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Mr. Anas Al Safarini, the Executive Director of Axios Health Education Services, signed on behalf of Axios. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of His Excellency Akihiko Nakajima; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Japan in United Arab Emirates.

Providing High-Quality Medications

This initiative comes within the framework of MOHAP's efforts to provide medications to low-income patients who are suffering from several diseases but have no access to insurance coverage, in order to alleviate their suffering. This Memorandum is intended to provide medications to patients who have relapsed or who are unresponsive to treatment in lymphocytes and Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease (inflammatory bowel disease), through the provision of medications produced by Takeda and used to treat those diseases, free of charge. The amount of medication provided to each patient is estimated according to their ability to pay based on the case study of their financial situation conducted by Axios in cooperation with the charities licensed in the United Arab Emirates.

From the Japanese Embassy side; His Excellency Ambassador Nakajima highlighted the joint vision and cooperation strategy existing between the United Arab Emirates and Japan under a framework named “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative for Future Cooperation”.

In this context, it is important to build up tangible results in each area. His Excellency also highlighted “I’m very proud that the one of the biggest medical companies in Japan and MOHAP collaborate fulfilling patient needs”.

Alleviating Patients’ Suffering

Mr. Takafumi Hori expressed his pleasure to be co-operating with MOHAP to help patients gain access to medicines, regardless of their ability to afford the full cost of treatment, via Takeda’s Patient Assistance Programs. These programs have been designed to increase sustainable access to innovative medicines for complex and rare diseases.