Pharmacists' Syndicate President Joe Salom confirmed that "the health of citizens and the dignity of patients is a red line." In a statement to "Voice of Lebanon" radio, he stated, "I have put forth a sustainable, clear, and explicit pharmaceutical plan that the government should adopt, calling for a donor conference." He noted that "the pharmaceutical card I propose is given directly to the citizen, allowing them to purchase medication from pharmacies, which requires a small budget from the state." Salom emphasized that "medications arriving in the port must be supplied to all Lebanese." He urged patients in general and cancer patients in particular to "mobilize and protest in front of the Council of Ministers on Thursday during its last session, to demand a clear plan for securing medicine for patients in the coming months and to call for a donor conference for the pharmaceutical sector before it turns into a caretaker government."
For his part, the President of the Pharmaceutical Importers’ Association, Karim Jabara, stressed that "the government must make a decision on Thursday to avoid a pharmaceutical void and open credits," pointing out that "some cancer medications, priced at no more than $100, have had their support lifted while support for cheaper generic medications remains."
