A number of major pharmacies told Al-Masry Al-Youm that 200 medicines have disappeared from the pharmaceutical market, including 50 that have no alternatives, considering it an attempt by the pharmaceutical companies to pressure the government to raise prices. Most of the medicines are produced by international companies working in Egypt. They include antibiotics, anti-cancer and anti-stroke medicines, asthma and allergy medicines for children, vitamins, anesthesia and migraine and colon medicines. Glaxo and Squibb produce 66% of the missing medicines, followed by 20% produced by the Medical Profession Co. The companies said this was due to low sales and because the doctors do not prescribe them. They added that some of these medicines are bought by the government hospitals through bids because they are not commercial. Sources said the companies are putting pressure on the Ministry of Health to raise the prices of these medicines.
