The Health Ministry will begin inspections to check pharamacies' compliance with drug prices. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
BEIRUT — Health Minister Firass Abiad issued a decision Wednesday to begin an inspection to confirm pharmacists are complying with the prices of medicines issued by his ministry and are abiding by the law on other regulations governing their operations.
Here’s what we know:
• This decision was reached by the ministry and the pharmacists’ syndicate in an effort to control the medicine market and drug prices.
• “The inspectors can look for any violations of the law, including the malpractice of the profession [and] noncompliance with the prices issued by the Ministry of Public Health,” a joint statement issued by the syndicate and the ministry read.
• Following months of medication shortages, Abiad announced last November that subsidies on pharmaceuticals for chronic diseases would be largely lifted, but that subsidies on drugs for cancer treatment, dialysis, and mental health illness management would remain in place.
• Many people in Lebanon have found themselves concerned and afraid for their own or a loved ones’ health as medications become increasingly pricey due to the loss of state subsidies on a wide range of medicine.