The media office of the Minister of Public Health, Firas Al-Abyad, indicated in a statement, “After the relative decline in the exchange rate of the dollar on the black market, after its significant rise in the noon hours, we are interested in clarifying to the public opinion that the Ministry of Public Health and in order to avoid the negative repercussions of the large and rapid differences in the exchange rate It deliberately updated the drug price index, and today, specifically, the ministry issued three indicators: the first in the morning at the price of 122,000 Lebanese pounds, and then soon after noon it issued an updated index at the price of 140,000, to issue a third indicator at the price of 118,000 in the afternoon.This comes as an understanding of the repercussions of the difficult financial conditions. At the same time, the ministry looks forward to the concerned parties shouldering all their humanitarian, professional and national responsibilities in these extremely difficult circumstances. But the result is repeated trade union calls for strikes, closures and dollarization.
In this context, it is worth stopping at two issues:
The royalties that the pharmacists receive from selling the medicine is thirty percent of its price. It is a very fair reward.
Pharmacists also buy medicine from importers in Lebanese currency and not in hard currency (that is, practically at a price lower than the black market price, which records continuous increases).
And the statement continued, “It is worth mentioning that Article 88 of the Law on Practicing the Pharmacy Profession prohibits, under penalty of penalty, the closure of this vital sector (pharmacy, warehouse, factory, importer, or agent), because that would endanger the lives of patients. As for dollarization, the Minister of Public Health renews his refusal This is what will turn pharmacies into exchange shops, and make the health sector in Lebanon an oasis for the rich in a desert of poverty. Is this what is required?”
He added, “As for a number of companies and warehouses stopping the delivery of medicines to pharmacies, it was the focus of an intense meeting today between Al-Abyad and their representatives in search of a flexible solution that guarantees that the medicine will not be interrupted. Everyone knows that the comprehensive solution required to be established is financial and political, and patients have nothing to do with it to pay a price.” Delaying reaching it. Therefore, let us work, at this delicate and decisive stage, as dictated by our duty and our conscience.”