The stock of drugs in most private pharmacies in Tunisia “does not exceed three days”, alerted, on Monday, the secretary general of the Tunisian Union of owners of private pharmacies, Thouraya Naifer.
Reacting to the decision to suspend the activities of drug wholesalers in Tunisia, Naifer warned of the “disastrous repercussions” of the judgment of the activity on the citizen in terms of safety and supply of medicines, in particular for people with chronic diseases.
The repercussions of the suspension of activity “will open the door au parallel trade in medicines,” she told the media.
For its part, the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists of Tunisia (CNOPT) expressed its strong concern regarding the impact of the suspension of the activities of drug wholesalers on the right of patients to access to drugs.
Quoted by the media, the CNOPT explains that “the cessation of the activity of wholesale pharmacists will directly impact the stock of medicines in pharmacies and their ability to meet the needs of patients”.
The National Trade Union Chamber of Pharmacists Wholesalers-Distributors (CSPGR) announced last Friday the suspension of the drug distribution activity throughout Tunisia, from Monday.
This decision comes following the non-renewal, by the authorities, of the certificate of exemption from withholding tax on sales of medicines for the year 2022, which “impacted the financial costs of wholesalers-distributors “.
This cessation of activity will continue until concrete solutions are found to save the sector, ensure the distribution of drugs in the country and guarantee the right of patients to access to drugs, specifies the Chamber.
