Efforts to Ensure Medicine Security Stressed

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Health minister Dr. Saad al-Nayef  and economy minister Muhammad Mhabek discussed  in a meeting on Thursday mechanisms to facilitate the import of raw materials and supplies for the pharmaceutical industry in order to ensure pharmaceuticals security .

Minister of Health stressed close cooperation  with sides concerned   to simplify necessary procedures necessary to import raw materials and supplies for the pharmaceutical industry and drawing  new mechanisms to  export medicines  and licensing new drug factories  to meet local market needs.

Economy minister said  that the pharmaceutical industry has proven over the past years high efficiency , with  increased demand for Syrian  medication both for the local market  and exportation, indicating the importance of developing  these industries to serve health, social, economic and political objectives.

Chairman of the Scientific Council of the National Pharmaceutical Industries in Syria  Dr. Zuheir Fadloun  said that the pharmaceutical industry over the past years created an economic labor force of  25 – 30 thousand workers , providing  main   drug needs of the local market , and contribute to the implementation of health policies and incubating  technology.

He pointed out that in the beginning of the crisis a charter of honor was signed  by owners of pharmaceutical factories  provided for not increasing prices  nor to sack workers and maintain production and distribution  levels.

T. Fateh