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The mechanism seeks to address monopolistic dynamics that can limit market access, constrain pricing flexibility and increase vulnerability to supply interruptions The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has announced the activation of a new regulatory mechanism requiring pharmaceutical companies to appoint more than one agent for each medical product registered in the UAE, in a move aimed at ending monopolistic practices and strengthening national drug security. The measure, described as the first of its kind in the UAE healthcare sector, is designed to ensure the continuous availability of medicines and medical products while reducing the risks associated with supply chain disruptions. Under the new framework, pharmaceutical manufacturers operating in the UAE market will no longer be permitted to rely on a single exclusive local agent for the distribution of a registered medical product. Instead, companies must appoint multiple agents, creating a more competitive and resilient distribution structure. According to the announcement, the mechanism seeks to address monopolistic dynamics that can limit market access, constrain pricing flexibility and increase vulnerability to supply interruptions — particularly during emergencies and global crises. By diversifying distribution channels, regulators aim to safeguard consistent product availability across hospitals, pharmacies and healthcare providers nationwide.

MOH says over 20 new health projects planned, including new facilities and hospital expansions. Oman’s Ministry of Health (MOH) is operating with a budget of nearly RO 1 billion in the current year, underscoring the government’s focus on expanding healthcare services and strengthening nationwide coverage, a senior official said on Sunday. His Excellency Suleiman bin Nasser bin Khamis bin Nasser Al-Hajji, Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs said the allocation reflects continued investment in developing the health sector and enhancing the ministry’s capacity to implement expansion and development projects across the governorates. More than 15 projects are currently under implementation during 2026–2027, in addition to several future initiatives, the official said. The ministry is also planning to launch more than 20 new projects aimed at improving the quality and reach of health services. These include the construction of new healthcare facilities, expansion of referral hospitals and the establishment of specialised and national centres. In workforce development, the official said Omanisation in the health sector rose to 71.4% in 2025, with high localisation rates achieved in key professions such as nursing and allied medical roles. The briefing also highlighted growth in the local pharmaceutical and medical supplies industry. Oman currently has 20 medical manufacturing facilities strategically...

K-beauty claimed the top spot in Japan’s imported cosmetics market again in 2025, marking its fourth consecutive year at No. 1. Although growth slowed, the gap with second-place France widened from the previous year. According to 2025 annual cosmetics import data released by the Cosmetics Importers Association of Japan (CIAJ), imports of cosmetics from Korea totaled 141.77 billion yen (approximately $910 million). This accounted for 30.8 percent of Japan’s total cosmetics imports. K-beauty’s market share rose 0.5 percentage points year-on-year. However, the growth rate of Korean cosmetics imports sharply declined from 40 percent in 2024 to 5.6 percent in 2025. This was largely due to a significant slowdown in Japan’s overall cosmetics import growth, which fell from 17.7 percent in 2024 to 3.1 percent in 2025. The market share gap with second-place France widened to 8 percent, up 2.1 percentage points from a year earlier. Imports of French products totaled 104.86 billion yen, representing a 22.8 percent share. France recorded declines in both market share (minus 1.6 percentage points) and import growth (minus 3.2 percent). K-beauty posted balanced growth in both skincare and color makeup categories. Total skincare imports rose 2.2 percent year-on-year to 204.94 billion yen. Of this, Korean products accounted...

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH) in Riyadh has successfully introduced a pioneering high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for prostate cancer for the first time in the Kingdom. The technique improves therapeutic precision by targeting early-stage tumors confined to the prostate, preserving surrounding healthy tissue. Performed in a single session without any surgical incisions or scarring, the treatment utilizes an advanced fusion-guided system that combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with precise prostate targeting, allowing physicians to accurately locate and treat only the affected tissue. The procedure also incorporates a sophisticated robotic platform that ensures precise probe positioning and the focused, safe delivery of therapeutic ultrasound energy. This treatment is indicated for patients with low- to intermediate-risk, early-stage prostate cancer. Early results demonstrate stable clinical outcomes, reduced hospitalization time, and fewer complications compared with standard therapies. Looking ahead, artificial intelligence is expected to further refine precision and broaden the potential of this treatment modality. Building on this progress, KFSH’s Center of Excellence for Surgery offers a fully integrated program for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. The program includes robotic-assisted surgery, radiation therapy, focal and systemic therapies, and comprehensive management of localized, locally advanced, and metastatic disease. Care is delivered...

Japan's health ministry said on Thursday a panel of specialists had endorsed Sumitomo Pharma's iPS cell-derived treatment for Parkinson's disease, paving the way for the world's first medical products based on the ⁠technology. So-called iPS cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells, ⁠have the capacity to change into various cells in the body. Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for creating such cells. The panel also gave its endorsement to Cuorips's iPS cell-derived cardiomyocyte patches for the treatment of severe heart failure. Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno ‌is expected to give his official approval for the two companies' products "soon", the Mainichi Shimbun ‌daily said.

India has revised its three decade old tax treaty with France, which will help major French companies save millions of dollars in dividend levies, while it also broadens New Delhi's powers to tax certain transactions, the finance ministry said on Monday. Under the new rules, French companies holding at least 10% in an Indian entity will pay a 5% tax on dividends, down from 10% earlier. For minority French shareholdings of under 10% in Indian companies, however, dividend tax will rise from 10% to 15%. Reuters was first to report the details of the planned tax treaty in December. The new tax treaty would likely have implications for large French portfolio investors, as well as companies like Capgemini, Accor, Sanofi, Pernod Ricard, Danone and L'Oreal -- all of which have expanded their presence in India in recent years. The revised pact also gives India the right to tax capital gains, and impose taxes on any French entity's share sale, even when it holds less than 10% of an Indian company. The move could impact France-based foreign portfolio investors that owned $21 billion worth of shares in Indian companies as of January 2026, according to Indian share depository data. It also scraps the so-called most favoured...

King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, part of the Makkah Health Cluster, has partnered with FluidAI to launch an AI-driven voice monitoring system designed to track heart attack patients after hospital discharge. By conducting structured clinical surveys via interactive voice technology, the system monitors symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath to differentiate between routine recovery and critical warning signs. If risk indicators are detected, the system instantly alerts the medical team and directs the patient to emergency care. Currently in a pilot phase with 20–30 patients, this initiative empowers nursing teams with digital triage tools, supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of transforming healthcare through proactive, technology-enabled smart care models.

Weight loss injections are becoming increasingly common during Ramadan More people than ever are arriving at Ramadan with an Ozempic prescription in hand, hoping that combining the holy month's natural calorie reduction with a powerful appetite suppressant will deliver faster results. It is an understandable impulse. But doctors across the region are urging caution, pointing out that what seems like a clever shortcut can quickly become a health risk if it is not managed carefully. Ozempic, the brand name for semaglutide, was originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by copying a hormone your gut naturally produces after eating, one that slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach, makes you feel full sooner, and helps your body manage blood sugar levels. A related drug called tirzepatide works in a similar way. Both have become widely used for weight loss, and both raise specific concerns during Ramadan. How the medication works during a fast The core effect of these injections is appetite suppression, and under a normal eating pattern, that is exactly what makes them useful. During Ramadan, however, reduced hunger can quietly become a problem. Dr Azeem Irshad, Specialist in Internal Medicine at Aster Clinic Al Nahda, explains the risk: "During Ramadan,...

Korea’s 10 largest drugmakers, excluding Samsung Biologics and Celltrion, finished 2025 with more earnings power than their sales growth alone would suggest, giving the strongest performers more room to invest in pipelines and overseas expansion as costs continue to rise across the industry. A review of preliminary 2025 results from 10 drugmakers shows combined revenue of 14.08 trillion won (about $9.8 billion) and combined operating profit of about 966.6 billion won (about $672 million). Among the traditional drugmakers, Yuhan Corp. reported consolidated revenue of 2.17 trillion won, up 5.75 percent, while operating profit rose 90.19 percent to 104.3 billion won and net income surged 235.95 percent to 185.3 billion won. The company cited improved cost ratios and gains including milestone and royalty income tied to its lung cancer drug Leclaza (lazertinib, sold overseas as Lazcluze), as well as gains from the sale of equity stakes in affiliates. GC Biopharma reported 1.99 trillion won in consolidated revenue, up 18.54 percent, and operating profit of 69.1 billion won, up 115.37 percent. The company pointed to a higher share of overseas sales from higher-margin products, led by expanded U.S. sales of its intravenous immunoglobulin product Alyglo, alongside contributions from Hunterase and the chickenpox vaccine Barycela. Chong...

A large U.S. study suggests that older adults hospitalized with delirium may experience better outcomes when treated with trazodone, commonly used to treat depression and sleep problems, rather than commonly used antipsychotic medications. Delirium, a sudden state of confusion that often affects older adults during or after hospitalization, is frequently treated with medications despite limited evidence about which drugs are safest. The study, "Safety outcomes of trazodone versus antipsychotics for delirium after hospital admission in adults aged 65 years and older," was published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity. Researchers analyzed nationwide health data from adults aged 65 and older who were treated with medications for delirium following hospital admission. They compared patients who received trazodone with those prescribed atypical antipsychotic medications, such as quetiapine, risperidone, or olanzapine. The findings showed that patients treated with trazodone had a lower risk of death and were less likely to be rehospitalized than those who received antipsychotic drugs. Importantly, the study did not find meaningful differences between the two groups in rates of falls or fractures—outcomes that are a significant concern for older adults taking sedating medications. The results suggest that trazodone may offer a safer alternative to antipsychotic drugs for managing delirium in older...