The Egyptian Pharmacist Syndicate announced that medicine covered by health insurance will only be sold in pharmacies affiliated with the Health Insurance Authority. This restriction will increase the suffering of citizens who stand in "long lines" to get their medicines, the syndicate warned, adding that health insurance is supposed to cover all segments of the population. Ignoring pharmacies not affiliated with the authority will inflict "enormous financial harm" on pharmacists. Meanwhile, the Pharmacist Syndicate will hold a general assembly meeting today to discuss the repercussions of the two recent decisions issued by the Minister of Health on health requirements and medicine pricing. The youth committee at the syndicate organized a campaign to gather signatures to hold an emergency general assembly meeting to discuss the implications of the two decisions. Minister of Health Dr. Hatem el-Gabali's failure to respond to the syndicate's letter means he has completely disregarded the demands of the syndicate, specifically the rejection of the provision that requires pharmacies to be later than 40 square meters, the committee said. Two days ago, a delegation from the syndicate met with officials at the Health Insurance Authority and with the Assistant Minister for Pharmacist Affairs Kamal Sabra in order to reach an understanding. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
