“Lebanon Debate”
In light of the stifling economic crisis that is ravaging the country, smuggled and counterfeit medicines have invaded the Lebanese markets at a rate ranging between 40 and 50%, which has a direct impact on the health of the Lebanese citizen.
However, what is new today is the spread of press information stating that there are 5 major pharmacies in Lebanon that sell smuggled Turkish medicines that are not of guaranteed quality, are not registered with the Ministry of Health, and are not, of course, subject to regulatory procedures. What is the truth about this matter?!
In this context, the head of the Syndicate of Pharmacists in Lebanon, Dr. Joe Salloum, confirmed to “Lebanon Debate” that “no one is above the limits of the law. If there is a pharmacist or someone outside this scope who violates the standards, he must be dealt with within the legal frameworks.”
Salloum stressed that “the majority of major violations occur outside the scope of pharmacies, especially in illegal pharmacies and dispensaries, in addition to social networking sites, and others.”
He stressed that “the Pharmacists Syndicate has taken the status of personal prosecution, in the Financial and Appeals Public Prosecution, against every matter related to smuggling and forgery that endangers the patient’s health,” noting that “the Syndicate is in full cooperation with the judiciary and the security services, and any closure of any center will be in cooperation with us, especially since The union is the one that submits the files to the Financial Public Prosecution.”
Salloum neither denies nor confirms the involvement of 5 major pharmacies in Lebanon in selling smuggled and counterfeit medicines, but what he confirmed is that the Pharmacists Syndicate is in full cooperation with all judicial departments, and all files that we receive are transferred to the judiciary immediately, and every violation is dealt with within the legal frameworks. “No one has a tent over his head. The health of the Lebanese citizen is a red line.”
In conclusion, Salloum reiterated that “major violations are outside the scope of pharmacies, and any violation inside pharmacies, and the union responds to any violation inside pharmacies, and the evidence of this is the summonses that occur.”
2023-10-05 14:05:46
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