Pfizer chairman and CEO Jeffrey B. Kindler lauded UAE’s modern healthcare system and its vision on intellectual property rights (IPR) during his visit to the country.

Pfizer, the world’s premier research-based pharmaceutical company, employs more than 1,300 people in the Middle East region, which includes regional offices in Dubai and Cairo.

Kindler's visit was to emphasize the company’s presence in the Middle East region and also to meet the Pfizer staff and leaders around the globe to better understand local and regional business operations.

During the visit, Kindler was received by Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE minister of state for cabinet affairs. He also met health minister Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami.

'We are aware of the great progress being made in the UAE on numerous fronts including healthcare. At Pfizer, our main goal is to ensure that patients have access to innovative medicines,' he noted.

'Only through the protection of our intellectual property rights can research-based companies fund the innovations necessary to meet current and future unmet medical needs and we recognise the UAE government’s commitment to protect intellectual property,” Kindler added.

The Pfizer local unit also discussed areas of co-operation with Al Qatami and confirmed the company’s support for the UAE’s efforts to provide smoke-free environment.

“Smoking is one of the major avoidable causes of death within the UAE, and co-ordinated action is essential to reduce its impact on this generation and the next. Pfizer will be launching, through the support of a Pfizer Foundation Grant, a project to engage non-governmental organisations in promoting smoke free environment,” said Mohamed Salah Roushdy, Pfizer’s regional director for the Middle East region.

“Pfizer’s visit to the UAE has been productive, providing us with insight into the important work that is being developed here, as well as cementing our strong relationships with our partners and peers in this fast-developing region,”  Kindler observed.

In the UAE, the company supports several health educational programs including the international cardiovascular conference in co-ordination with Partners International and Harvard Medical School, besides working with the helath ministry on campaigns for smoking cessation, disease awareness and public welfare.-TradeArabia News Service