The Doctors Syndicate called for a set of decisions to be enforced in order to resolve the shortage of baby formula. Dozens of families protested in front of the Egyptian Pharmaceutical Trading Company headquarters last Thursday, against the continued shortage of subsidised baby formula in all outlets. The Health Ministry said on Tuesday it has distributed 40,358 packets of baby formula since the beginning of September, across different Egyptian cities. The ministry also formed 16 medical teams to monitor the distribution process, ensure the availability of the packets in all outlets, and facilitate the process of distribution. The syndicate called on the ministries of health and finance to disclose their budget for the baby formula, stating that it should be no less than EGP 900m. It also called for all purported corruption claims on the monopoly of baby milk packets to be referred to the public prosecution. The price of the subsidised formula is EGP 17 instead of EGP 65 in pharmacies. Following last week's protests, the army said in a statement that it will coordinate with the Health Ministry to provide the formula at a price of EGP 30 instead of EGP 60. The syndicate further called for the price of the packets to be decrease to EGP 5 only, in addition to forming a joint oversight committee between the Health Ministry and civil society organisations to avoid further shortages and receive complaints from families. The number of outlets that sell subsidised baby formula will be raised to 1,600 outlets, instead of only 1,005 by the end of this month, according to an earlier statement by the Health Ministry. The ministry also limited the conditions for distribution of the formula packets to mothers who are facing difficulties in breastfeeding, or suffer other physical disorders that prevent them from breastfeeding. Source: Daily News Egypt
