Hit by the devaluation of the Syrian pound, Syria’s pharmaceutical industry is facing an exacerbating crisis. MP Waddah Murad warned that pharmaceutical factories will shut down within a week.
“Medicine and food are a red and dangerous line for the people… You have so far failed in food, and are on your way to closing Syrian pharmaceutical factories that used to cover the needs of the local market, at the cheapest prices, and export their product to more than fifty-eight countries,” Murad said in his address to parliament.
Murad lambasted the government for asking pharmaceuticals to price medicines according to the dollar exchange rate, saying that most of the industry will be shut down within a week after the depletion of raw materials.
The pharmaceutical industry in Syria is considered one of the most developed investment sectors since the establishment of the first pharmaceutical company in 1968.
“Al-Dimass” and “Tamiko” pharmaceuticals were nationalized in 1970. Al-Dimass, which is run by the country’s defense ministry, produces serums, antibiotics and anesthetics. Tamiko, which is run by the country’s health ministry, produces cytamol, diabetes and pressure drugs, as well as serums.
More so, Barakat Pharmaceutical Industries was established in 1972.
In 1987 the private sector was allowed to invest in pharmaceuticals, and the "Aubrey Pharmaceutical Industries" company obtained the first license for the pharmaceutical industry from the private sector in 1989.
After that, there was a leap in the Syrian pharmaceutical industry, more than 28 laboratories were established, bringing the number of factories to about 70 in 2011.
The 70 factories were responsible for producing more than 8,000 drugs, covering 93% of the local market's need, with surpluses exported to more than 44 countries.
According to official data, pharmaceuticals in Syria were hit greatly by war, whereby 19 factories were put out of business and the overall production rate dropped by 75%.
