A few days ago, LBCI aired a report about the testimony of a citizen, whose father had leukemia and was admitted to hospital, where they prescribed a medication that was not registered in Lebanon and costs USD 500 per box at the hospital since it is imported by a private company into Lebanon from India, which brings the total cost of the treatment to USD 75,000. The medication is called arsitri.
The citizen contacted an acquaintance in India who sent him 50 boxes of arsenox, at the cost of USD 9 per box. Arsenox is a medication prescribed for the same disease.
The hospital agreed to use it, but the man died after a while, leaving around 35 boxes of unused medication that was brought from India at a cost of USD 9 per box.
After contacting the company that imports the 500-dollar drug, a spokesperson said that what causes this difference in the price is the fact that the primary materials used to make the arsitri are different from the ones used to manufacture arsenox, adding that the latter does not comply with international standards and is dedicated to the Indian local market.
Another noteworthy development happened in the case as the hospital contacted the citizen and asked to purchase the remaining 35 vials to treat another person suffering from leukemia. The drugs were purchased by the hospital for around $ 50 per box.
Therefore, if the 9-dollar vial does not comply with international standards required in the US and Europe, and its primary materials vary from the medication prescribed by the hospital, why do university hospitals in Lebanon agree to use it?
If the hospital agrees to use it for another person, this means that it is in fact convinced of its efficiency, which also means that it is possible to guarantee cheaper medications in Lebanon.
If the Public Health Ministry is unable to import, as it says, then why the private companies do not import clinically approved cheaper drugs, so that the poor citizens, who cannot afford expensive medications, can receive treatment without having sometimes to sell their properties?
For more details, watch the full report in the video above