Impressions among pharmacists in Lebanon suggest that the profession, which is classified as one of the most organized, is currently facing a "raid" from "bag traders" who are trying to penetrate the market, even through some pharmacies and doctors, to achieve commercial profits. The primary beneficiaries of these profits are often unknown, but the damage to people's health and safety is undeniable.
This phenomenon intensified in the Beqaa region a few days ago, when the State Security branch in the area confiscated quantities of medicines that were being sold by a woman in a camp for Syrian refugees in Zahle. However, a little research reveals that what the woman did is merely a drop in the ocean of violations occurring in this profession, some of which involve the assistance of doctors and workers in the pharmaceutical sector.
In one pharmacy, a young man approached the pharmacist offering to secure quantities of medicines that have been missing from the market for some time. This trader's goods were of Turkish origin, and he claimed to have access to them in the quantities required by the pharmacy. When the pharmacy owner clarified that he does not deal in medicines that do not enter through official channels, the latter suggested again that the pharmacist could refer customers who need the medication directly to him. This, of course, is not a solution that satisfies the pharmacist.
This incident is not isolated. Workers in the sector report that, due to the lack of legally imported medicines that should enter Lebanon via licensed agents, and the insistence of some doctors to prescribe medicines that are missing in the market while refusing the cheaper locally manufactured alternatives, some pharmacists have resorted to securing medications through unlicensed traders, with unknown sources for the medicines they sell and without providing any invoices. According to some pharmacists, some of these traders are now openly selling medicines and advertising them on social media pages, and sometimes a pharmacist finds themselves in a "WhatsApp" group marketing available medicines along with their prices.
One person attempted to communicate with one of these groups and noticed the founder's extreme reluctance to reveal their identity. After some back and forth with the "admin," it was agreed to transfer the medication to a representative, to be delivered in a public place away from any supervision.
According to workers in the sector, this phenomenon has spread following the Lebanese crisis that led to the loss of certain medications, particularly those that have remained subsidized, and also after the port explosion incident, where many countries allowed the transfer of medicines in large quantities to Lebanon, sometimes under the pretext of using them as humanitarian aid, while some of these medications ended up on the black market.
However, the repercussions of this chaos, as seen by those in the sector, are not solely on pharmacists but pose a significant risk to citizens' health. This is especially true since no one knows the source of the medicines or whether they are valid or not, and thus there is no reference to turn to in the event of any side effects. This means that the medication, which could turn toxic if it is spoiled, has become a commodity traded freely, and it is not limited to Turkish medicine but also includes Syrian, Indian, and Iranian medicines.
Pharmacists explain that "imported medication with an official invoice is subject to monitoring from the beginning of the manufacturing process in the laboratory to the importer, accompanied by an official invoice, and each medication is assigned a number, or lock no, linked to all information about the production date and the medicine formulation, especially since there are formulations from major laboratories that may be withdrawn if defects are discovered."
Pharmacists' union president, Joe Saloum, distinguished between individuals who bring medications for emergency treatments and those who engage in illegal trading. He confirmed to "Nidaa Al-Watan" that "this phenomenon is a result of the crisis resulting from the lack of certain medications, which drives citizens to resort to the black market." He warned that "the majority of these medications have either been transported incorrectly, are forged, or have tampered expiration dates." He considered that "the only solution is for any medication possessing quality certificates to enter through the correct approved channels; otherwise, its undocumented entry endangers patient safety."
Regarding the tendency of some doctors and pharmacies to market this imported medication unofficially, Saloum indicated that in some cases, pharmacies may have the minister's signature allowing them to import known as the minister's endorsement, where the medication is designated for specific patients and in limited quantities. However, the problem lies in the quantities being imported and sold indiscriminately. "The pharmacy inspection and the pharmacists' union take measures against any pharmacy selling, unregistered medications, but the fundamental solution is to ensure the availability of medicines in the first place; then there will be no need to resort to Turkish or Syrian or any other smuggled medications." Additionally, he believes that the solution also involves "implementing regulatory measures, including adopting medication cards and completely lifting subsidies on medications in favor of supporting the patient rather than the commodity."
