Dr. Rashid al-Faisal, president of the Scientific Council for Pharmaceutical Industries, stressed in a statement to al-Watan that the decision to export to Lebanon medicine and medical supplies produced in Syria is very crucial since Lebanon currently suffers a lack of many pharmaceutical products.
Faisal stressed that this decision confirms that the production capacity of the plants is sufficient to cover the need for medicine of the market in Syria, and therefore export of pharmaceutical products is possible, to Lebanon for example. The Syrian Ministry of Health’s work process is to ensure medicine for the Syrian market at an acceptable price first. At present times, there are many factories capable of producing large quantities of medicine, which are sufficient to cover the needs of the Syrian and the Lebanese markers. Syria is in urgent need of external markets to drain its medication products. He pointed out that, “this decision certainly supports our Brothers in Lebanon, in terms of securing the needed medicine in these circumstances. However, on the other hand, this decision benefits the Syrian economy.”
He added: “There is a scarcity in securing some types of medicine for the Syrian citizen. This is an issue that we do not disagree on, certainly, these products will not be exported abroad. The citizen always has priority.”
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Regarding the possible repercussions of such a decision on the rise in the prices of medicine, he explained that it will not impact the sale prices in the local market. The prices will be studied, and the medication export will not affect the local price. He stressed that no one believes that this decision will have a negative impact on the pharmaceutical industry and on the citizen. On the contrary, it is a breakthrough for the pharmaceutical industry and its improvement, especially since we have a surplus of production capacity. When needed, we can operate more than one shift to accommodate export markets.
It is noteworthy that the Syrian medical industry experienced remarkable productivity and a jump in exports, reaching many Arab and foreign countries in the years leading up to the Syrian war. The war led to the destruction of large medicine factories which were central to the production cycle. However, with the return of widespread security to Syria, private pharmaceutical manufacturers have returned to production and started producing various medicine types. According to available information, the export of some pharmaceutical products to neighboring or other countries will not negatively impact prices in the local market; instead, these exports will boost the national economy.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
