As the sounds of war reached the doors of Beirut’s southern suburbs weeks ago, the Lebanese people’s concerns over their "medicine security" heightened, leading many to rush to stockpile as many medications as possible. They fear shortages or being unable to secure their needs if the war dragged on. The Lebanese people do not want to repeat the scenario of drug shortages they experienced in past years, exacerbated by companies and pharmacists hoarding their products.
While no drug crisis appears on the horizon, and despite reassurances from Minister of Public Health Firass Abiad that there is no problem in securing and importing drugs and that the situation remains under control, some citizens have complained about the difficulty in securing certain types of medications, such as those for chronic illnesses, tranquilizers, blood pressure, diabetes, kidney and thyroid medications and children's drugs. They also complained about the random increase in prices.
To address this issue, which has long concerned the Lebanese since it directly affects their health, Houna Loubnan spoke with Suhail Gharib, a member of the Lebanese Pharmacists Syndicate, who explained the details of the situation. He said, “Even though the pharmaceutical sector in Lebanon has not yet been affected by the war, and drug companies are still receiving shipments, most Lebanese have rushed to buy and stockpile drugs since the war started, out of fear of shortages, as they do not trust their government."
Regarding reports of shortages, Gharib emphasized that this crisis is not new and is not related to the war. He noted that the current stock of medications is sufficient for four months. Gharib also confirmed that “the import of drugs is ongoing and has not changed. However, citizens may notice the absence of certain medications depending on the region. Some drugs may be available in pharmacies in Beirut while being unavailable in the Bekaa or southern regions, and vice versa. This is due to the security situation and the difficulties faced by distributors in reaching all areas.”
He added, “The problem of weak distribution in certain areas has limited the supply of medications in pharmacies. When patients request more than one box of medication, we cannot provide it in order to meet the needs of all citizens, which leads some to believe we are facing a drug shortage.”
Gharib also highlighted a challenge faced by pharmacy owners: “Often, they have to meet distributors in safer areas to avoid putting them in danger, which can delay deliveries and cause temporary shortages of certain medications, though these are quickly restocked afterward.”
Regarding the increase in prices, Gharib stated, “The prices of medications set by the Ministry of Health have remained unchanged, and all pharmacies must adhere to them. However, if a drug is sold on the black market by some corrupt individuals, the syndicate must be notified immediately to address the issue and put a stop to anyone attempting to manipulate prices and people's health.”
He concluded by saying, “Although the recent pressure has been concentrated on certain pharmacies located far from the conflict zones, increasing the burden on them, we continue to fulfill our mission to serve citizens and ensure their health and safety. He emphasized that 'there is no need to panic,' as medications are available in the market, and for those that are not, alternatives exist.”
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