Lebanon Faces Drug Shortage, Economic Crisis
2020-11-15
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1Heart drugs and all kinds of other medicines have disappeared from drug stores across Lebanon.
2The drug shortage is the latest in a series of problems in the country,
3which was once a center for medical services, banking and real estate.
4Rita Harb works as a nurse at a hospital in Beirut, the capital.
5She cannot find heart drugs for her 85-year-old grandfather.
6She has searched Lebanese drug stores and called friends overseas.
7Not even doctors she knew could get the drugs from pharmacies or other providers.
8Harb's story is becoming increasingly common in Lebanon.
9Officials and pharmacists say the drug shortage was made worse by panic buying and hoarding after an announcement by the country's Central Bank governor.
10He said that with the supply of foreign money running low, the government would not be able to keep up subsidies, including subsidies on drugs.
11That announcement "caused a storm, an earthquake," said Ghassan al-Amin, head of the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon.
12Many Lebanese now search the country and beyond for necessary drugs.
13Older adults ask religious organizations and aid groups for help.
14In the country's economic crisis, more than half the population has been pushed into poverty.
15Lebanon's money has lost nearly 80 percent of its value.
16People's savings also have dropped in value.
17Lebanon imports nearly everything, including 85 percent of its drugs.
18Lifting subsidies is a likely step for the government.
19This is expected to increase prices and inflation.
20Fixed at 1,500 to the U.S. dollar for many years, the Lebanese pound is now worth around 7,000 for $1 on the black market.
21The difference between the official and black-market dollar rate has fueled smuggling.
22In other words, subsidized Lebanese drugs were secretly taken to neighboring countries.
23In the chaos, six out of every 10 brand drugs have become unavailable, notes Malak Khiami, the pharmacist at Amel Association, an aid group.
24For years, around 20 importers have controlled Lebanon's drug market.
25Lebanese law awards rights to some drug importers, giving them power to resist reforms and keep out competitors.
26The import rights are part of Lebanon's economic order, which after the civil war's end became controlled by militia chiefs, wealthy traders and real estate owners.
27As that economic order falls apart, the market for foreign drugs will likely become smaller, says Viviane Akiki, an economic reporter.
28"The dollar shortage will impose new solutions."
29In the Zoukaq al-Blat neighborhood of Beirut, Mahmoud Mahmoud's pharmacy was quiet.
30Except for painkillers and other products, the store's shelves were empty.
31Mahmoud believes suppliers are holding back drugs because they are waiting for higher prices - or smuggling them out of the country.
32One gout drug, he said, was found in Iraq, selling for $7, more than five times its price in Lebanon.
33"They are destroying the profession," said Mahmoud.
34"With the way the country is going, the profession is collapsing."
35I'm John Russell.
1Heart drugs and all kinds of other medicines have disappeared from drug stores across Lebanon. The drug shortage is the latest in a series of problems in the country, which was once a center for medical services, banking and real estate. 2Rita Harb works as a nurse at a hospital in Beirut, the capital. She cannot find heart drugs for her 85-year-old grandfather. 3She has searched Lebanese drug stores and called friends overseas. Not even doctors she knew could get the drugs from pharmacies or other providers. 4Harb's story is becoming increasingly common in Lebanon. 5Officials and pharmacists say the drug shortage was made worse by panic buying and hoarding after an announcement by the country's Central Bank governor. He said that with the supply of foreign money running low, the government would not be able to keep up subsidies, including subsidies on drugs. 6That announcement "caused a storm, an earthquake," said Ghassan al-Amin, head of the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon. 7Many Lebanese now search the country and beyond for necessary drugs. Older adults ask religious organizations and aid groups for help. 8In the country's economic crisis, more than half the population has been pushed into poverty. Lebanon's money has lost nearly 80 percent of its value. People's savings also have dropped in value. 9Lebanon imports nearly everything, including 85 percent of its drugs. 10Lifting subsidies is a likely step for the government. This is expected to increase prices and inflation. Fixed at 1,500 to the U.S. dollar for many years, the Lebanese pound is now worth around 7,000 for $1 on the black market. 11The difference between the official and black-market dollar rate has fueled smuggling. In other words, subsidized Lebanese drugs were secretly taken to neighboring countries. 12In the chaos, six out of every 10 brand drugs have become unavailable, notes Malak Khiami, the pharmacist at Amel Association, an aid group. 13For years, around 20 importers have controlled Lebanon's drug market. Lebanese law awards rights to some drug importers, giving them power to resist reforms and keep out competitors. 14The import rights are part of Lebanon's economic order, which after the civil war's end became controlled by militia chiefs, wealthy traders and real estate owners. 15As that economic order falls apart, the market for foreign drugs will likely become smaller, says Viviane Akiki, an economic reporter. "The dollar shortage will impose new solutions." 16In the Zoukaq al-Blat neighborhood of Beirut, Mahmoud Mahmoud's pharmacy was quiet. Except for painkillers and other products, the store's shelves were empty. 17Mahmoud believes suppliers are holding back drugs because they are waiting for higher prices - or smuggling them out of the country. One gout drug, he said, was found in Iraq, selling for $7, more than five times its price in Lebanon. 18"They are destroying the profession," said Mahmoud. "With the way the country is going, the profession is collapsing." 19I'm John Russell. 20Sarah El Deeb reported this story for The Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOALearning English. George Grow was the editor. 21_____________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23real estate - n. property such as land or buildings 24nurse - n. a medical worker 25panic - n. a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally 26hoard - v. to collect and hide a large amount of (something valuable) 27subsidy - n. money that the government pays to keep prices low; financial assistance 28black market - n. a system through which things are bought and sold illegally 29chaos - n. complete disorder 30shelf - n. a flat object that provides a surface for storing objects on which objects can be placed 31gout - n. a disease that causes painful enlargement of the joints, especially in the toes 32profession - n. occupation; job 33We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.