Answering the demands of pharmacies across Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said it would finally publish the regulations for subsidized and unsupported medicine.
Speaking in a media conference on Friday, caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced that subsidies will be lifted from medicines priced less than 12,000 LBP ($8 at the official rate) that can be found at primary health care centers.
The list of medicines that will remain subsidized includes medicines for chronic and incurable diseases, infant formula, vaccines, and mental and neurological diseases.
Amid a severe medicine shortage, pharmacies announced a strike over a week ago and planned to launch an open strike starting Friday to push the Health Ministry to publish the list of medicines that would remain subsidized.
Importers and distributors have allegedly been holding medicines from pharmacies in anticipation of the lifting of subsidies.
The list is set to release on the Health Ministry’s website on Friday.
