Malaysian healthcare company Pharmaniaga Berhad has announced plans to open a new manufacturing company in Bahrain.

The announcement came during a meeting between Bahrain's health under-secretary Dr Aisha Bu Unq, Malaysian Ambassador Ahmed Shahizan Abdul-Samad and company officials, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The Malaysian company officials highlighted the group's specialisation in the manufacturing of  drugs related to anaesthesia, asthma, antibiotics, heart and immune system.

Bahrain is facing severe shortages of key medicines, particularly drugs for the treatment of diabetes and heart diseases.

The crisis follows a decision by the National Health Regulatory Authority to slash prices of 1,059 medicines, reports our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.-TradeArabia News Service