Medication prices increase by nine percent after rise in US dollar exchange rate

In the past few days, the Lira exchange rate fluctuated against the dollar, which caused the interruption in the supply of medicines and infant formula from pharmacies after drug importing companies stopped distributing them for fear of losing their capital.

The drug-importing companies were waiting for a new index to be issued by the Ministry of Health, according to which the ministry would determine new official pricing for the drugs, reflecting the latest exchange rate of the dollar.

The new index was issued, and the Ministry of Health raised it from 41,000 Lebanese Liras to 45,000 Liras, noting that the dollar price crossed the threshold of 46,000 Liras in the black market. 

In this context, Karim Jabara, head of the Medicines Importers Syndicate, confirmed that the movement of medicine distribution to pharmacies has returned to normal. Still, the prices of imported medicines increased by nine percent.

Here are the prices of some of them:

1. - The cost of a box of Panadol increased from 62,500 to 68,919 Liras. 
2. - A 1-gram anti-inflammatory drug has a cost of 291,500 Liras after it was 265,000 Liras.
3. - The cost of children's Panadol was 96,000 Liras and became 106,000 Liras.
4.  

However, if the price of the dollar remains fluctuating, then these prices will not be guaranteed.