lebanon faces an ongoing battle against medicine smuggling, a persistent issue that undermines national sovereignty, weakens the economy, and poses a meaningful threat to public health. The smuggling and fraudulent medicine file, though not new, has intensified during recent crises, raising concerns about the integrity of the nation’s drug supply and the safety of its citizens.

The pharmacists’ Perspective

Joe Salloum, the Pharmacists Captain, has voiced concerns over the state of citizen health, emphasizing the need for stringent security measures to combat the adulteration of smuggled drugs. In a statement, Mr. Salloum called for a thorough examination, go through the subject until the end, whatever the side or the beneficiaries. He also advocated for the acceleration in the establishment of the National Agency for the Drug and the re -audit of all registered medicines.

Union’s lone Battle and Security Services’ Involvement

Mr. Salloum expressed satisfaction with the security services’ increased attention to the issue of adulterated and smuggled medicine, noting that the union had been standing alone in the lookout for a long time. He highlighted the dangers of adulterated medicine, stating:

The medicine is a risky substance and the adulterated of it causes many damages and its results might potentially be fatal, which threatens the health of the patient in Lebanon.
Joe Salloum, Pharmacists Captain

He further added that there was great negligence for a long time in terms of smuggling and allowing the entry of counterfeit and fabricated medicine in inappropriate ways, and medications that do not meet the required quality standards were introduced.

call for Reconsideration of Registered Drugs

Mr. Salloum appealed for a review of all previously registered drugs, notably those involved in Ministry of Health tenders. he reiterated the importance of ongoing security, customs, and judicial efforts to curb the phenomenon, emphasizing that what we care about is that the issue is not circumstantial or for a specific stage and the consideration of later, this issue is the most dangerous for citizens and the sick.

Sources and Routes of Smuggled Drugs

According to Mr. Salloum, the primary sources of these drugs include iran, Syria, and Turkey. These substances enter Lebanon through both legal and illegal ports, often without detection. He also addressed the issue of illegal pharmacies and the sale of adulterated medicines on social media, noting there are very serious cases after taking similar drugs among cancer patients and others.

Accountability and the New Era of Law

Mr. Salloum stressed the need for accountability, stating:

There are a large number of people who smuggle medicines and the responsibility falls on the security forces to reveal the bodies behind these matters.Everyone who deals with the adulterated drug” the deadly citizen “and the food supplements and adulterated preparations must be held accountable, especially considering the new era and the era of law.
Joe Salloum, Pharmacists Captain

He clarified that there is no difference between the smuggled and fraudulent medicine, the two pose a great danger to patients’ health.

The National Drug Agency: A Necessity

Mr. Salloum emphasized the urgent need to establish the National Drug Agency, describing it as an self-reliant institution by its nature. He explained that the agency’s responsibilities would include drug registration, supervision, quality assurance, and market control. The law for its establishment was issued in late 2021.

he further elaborated:

Hundreds of varieties of the drug that do not avoid health conditions and do not apply to international standards for quality and quality, so it is very necessary to accelerate the establishment of this institution and check the drugs registered mainly, stressing that we do not accept that the Lebanese patient is a field of experimenting for anyone.
Joe Salloum, Pharmacists Captain

The agency would also address the pricing disparities of cancer drugs between Lebanon and Western countries, ensuring fair and appropriate prices.

Addressing Social Media Sales

Regarding the sale of medicines and supplements on social media, Mr. Salloum acknowledged the lack of regulatory authority and called for legislative action to prevent the sale of adulterated products. He urged judicial authorities to take action against these online platforms.

The Question of Pharmaceutical sovereignty

The article concludes by questioning when Lebanon will achieve pharmaceutical sovereignty and protect its citizens’ health security through measures such as establishing the National Drug agency, thereby ensuring the dignity of Lebanese patients.