HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
A sharp dispute has erupted between pharmacists and the Ministry of Health after the latter began preparing a new decree to determine drug prices without involving professional bodies in the discussion, which the confederation representing them considered "unjustified exclusion" and a disregard for the principle of participatory approach.
The unions believe that reforming the drug pricing system is a sensitive national workshop that requires a balance between enabling citizens to access medicines at reasonable prices and ensuring the sustainability of the pharmaceutical sector, which is suffering from increasing financial difficulties. In contrast, sources within the Ministry confirm the continuation of dialogue with some union centrals on reform files, while the angry bodies describe these committees as formal and not yielding any tangible results. Professional organizations have demanded that the government return the draft decree to the dialogue table, and accelerate the implementation of the agreed-upon reforms, considering that saving the pharmaceutical sector has become a necessity to ensure its vital role in the success of the national health system reform workshop.
