A recent update of drug prices in Tunisia arouses many questions. Indeed, around 60 % of the products appearing in a new list published last Friday have seen their prices increase, while 40 % recorded a drop, according to declarations by Molka Moudir, vice-president of the Tunisian Union of Pharmacists of Frame.
Speaking on Jawhara FM, she said that these pricing changes are made without notice, even for pharmacists. Only the central pharmacy is legally authorized to fix and update the prices of medicines.
She added that the drugs affected by this pricing revision are, for many, products that have not been imported for about a year, because generic alternatives manufactured locally, just as efficient and of equivalent quality, have been put on the market. This approach is part of a policy of supporting the national pharmaceutical industry and reduction of import costs.
The vice-president also insisted on the need to strengthen citizens’ confidence in generic drugs. “The biggest pharmaceutical powers in the world are largely on the generics, due to their low cost and their scientifically proven efficiency,” she said.
She invited citizens to consult their pharmacist for any questions concerning the evolution of prices or the availability of drugs. The manager said that the update list can be available freely on the central pharmacy website, recalling that “each citizen has the right to access details concerning increases or price reductions via official publications”.
