The latest on imported and locally produced medicines

Lebanese have been reliant on the local pharmaceutical industry since the cost of imported medicines increased. But has the subsidy for drugs produced locally started to be lifted as well?

A recent Health Ministry decision stipulated the reduction of subsidies on a range of raw materials used in the production of locally manufactured and packaged medicines, which up until a few months ago, were 100% subsidized.

Caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad revealed to LBCI that the support of the Banque du Liban (BDL) to the local pharmaceutical industry, which amounted to $5 mln, is still the same.

He explained that what happened was a rationalization of this sum, meaning that rather than allocating it to produce between 500 and 600 locally manufactured medicines. This sum was only allocated to the production of a select few to grow and boost the local industry, make new drugs, and expand the coverage of local medicines in the market.

Consequently, subsidies on raw materials for some medicines were reduced to include raw materials for other locally manufactured drugs.

Abiad stressed that despite this reduction, these drugs were still more affordable than those imported.

The Syndicate of the Pharmaceutical Industries in Lebanon claims that this decision was made after a lengthy study that addressed how to provide a high-quality, effective drug sustainably and at prices that are still affordable for Lebanese citizens.

The focus will also be on medicines for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, and blood clots, which constitute 60% of medical needs in Lebanon.

The syndicate also indicated that some industries have started working on medicines to treat incurable diseases and cancer.

How will drugs be priced? 

The rise will be between 6,000 LBP to 180,000 LBP for medicines with prices between less than 199,000 LBP and 399,000 LBP, which make up 70% of the drugs produced in Lebanon.

Another rise will be from 181,000 LBP to a maximum of 1 million LBP for drugs with prices between 400,000 and 1 million and 450,000 LBP.