Towards a national pharmaceutical strategy in Lebanon: Ensuring access to quality and safe medications for all

Authors

  • Hala Sacre Scientific Committee, Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon & Institut National de Santé Publique d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Rasha Hamra World Health Organisation-Lebanon Country Office, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Carole Hassoun Lebanese Pharma Group (LPG), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Marie-Louise A. Hanna Syndicate of the Pharmaceutical Industries in Lebanon (SPIL), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Marie Ghossoub Scientific Committee, Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Joumana Jaber Syndicate of the Pharmaceutical Industries in Lebanon (SPIL), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Aline Hajj Institut National de Santé Publique d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon & Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Pharmacie Clinique et Contrôle de Qualité des Médicament, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon & Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada & Oncology Division, CHU de Québec Université Laval Research Center, Québec, Canada
  • Marwan Akel Institut National de Santé Publique d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon & School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), The Hague, Netherlands
  • Rony M. Zeenny Institut National de Santé Publique d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon & Department of Pharmacy, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Wadih Mina Lebanese Pharma Group (LPG), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Roula Rached Lebanese Pharma Group (LPG), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Wael Chourbaji Lebanese Pharma Group (LPG), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Samar El Hajj Lebanese Pharma Group (LPG), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Bassame Ziade Lebanese Pharma Group (LPG), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Rawad Gebrael Lebanese Pharma Group (LPG), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Ali Sleiman Lebanese Pharma Group (LPG), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Lina Traboulsi Order of Malta, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Carol Abi Karam Syndicate of the Pharmaceutical Industries in Lebanon (SPIL), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Omar El Rifai World Health Organisation-Lebanon Country Office, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Pascale Salameh Scientific Committee, Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon & Institut National de Santé Publique d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon & Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon & School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon & Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, 2417, Nicosia, Cyprus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.165179

Keywords:

Access to medication, LMIC, Pharmaceutical strategy, Quality medication, Stakeholder

Abstract

Introduction: Lebanon is facing challenges affecting the whole health sector, including access to medications. Lebanon has only proposed very few short-term national pharmaceutical strategic solutions. Previous reform attempts targeting the pharmaceutical sector, could not protect it from the crises and their detrimental consequences on patient and population health.

Purpose: This document unveils the critical elements that should be addressed in the planned National Pharmaceutical Sector Strategy (NPS) being developed by the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon (OPL) in consultation with the concerned stakeholders.

Method: Strategic goals were proposed for adoption and implementation by the competent authorities based on consultations, situational assessments, and gap analyses. The objectives and an implementation plan were developed based on the available resources and policy dialogue, respectively.

Conclusion: The National Pharmaceutical Strategy would help the Lebanese authorities/policy-makers, aided by competent healthcare professionals, develop and implement a time-bound roadmap to attain a nation with access to quality and safe medications for the whole population. Implementing this strategy would require the commitment of decision-makers, the accountability of involved parties, innovation in finding solutions, close collaboration between stakeholders, and lengthy efforts to attain the stated vision.

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Published

18-03-2023

How to Cite

Sacre, H., Hamra, R., Hassoun, C., A. Hanna, M.-L., Ghossoub, M., Jaber, J., Hajj, A., Akel, M., Zeenny, R. M., Mina, W., Rached, R., Chourbaji, W., El Hajj, S., Ziade, B., Gebrael, R., Sleiman, A., Traboulsi, L., Abi Karam, C., El Rifai, O., & Salameh, P. (2023). Towards a national pharmaceutical strategy in Lebanon: Ensuring access to quality and safe medications for all . Pharmacy Education, 23(1), p. 165–179. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.165179

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