The seized medications have been sold to pharmacies at their subsidized prices, Ibrahim said. (Credit: Big Stock)
BEIRUT — Former president of the pharmacists’ syndicate in Lebanon Rabih Hassouna has been arrested on accusations that he illegally stored medicines, including cancer treatment drugs, in an Ain al-Mreisseh warehouse, financial public prosecutor Ali Ibrahim told the LBCI television channel on Sunday.
Here’s what we know:
• More than 130 boxes of medical supplies used to treat cancer were found on Friday in a warehouse belonging to Hassouna during a search conducted by the Lebanese Army in its fight against the illegal storage of drugs. Ibrahim told LBCI that the seized products had been be sold to pharmacies at their official subsidized prices.
• The surprise seizure sparked uproar on social media sites amid a countrywide medicine and medical supply shortage that is endangering patients’ wellbeing and, in some cases, lives.
• The seizure followed a protest by cancer patients in downtown Beirut on Thursday over the lack of access to medications interrupting or delaying the treatment of their cancers.
• Rabih Hassouna was a candidate for the 2018 legislative elections on former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Future Movement list.
• Another warehouse, this one in Fayadieh on the outskirts of Beirut, was also raided on Friday evening. Local media outlets reported that it belongs to a member of the Free Patriotic Movement.
• Nationwide shortages of drugs and fuel, both of which are partially subsidized by Banque du Liban, have in large part been blamed on smuggling operations by companies and individuals aiming to grow their profit margin by selling the supplies in Syria. However, importers also blame the shortages on payment delays on the part of BDL.