[Foreword] On September 19, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Samin Siddiqui stated in Lebanon that implementation of new industry quality standards will help Lebanese domestic pharmaceutical companies to better compete with their foreign counterparts. In addition to improving the safety and quality of products, the new pharmaceutical production standards will also reduce Lebanese healthcare costs and make domestic pharmaceutical companies more competitive.

On September 19th, World Health Organization (WHO) representative Samin Siddiqui stated in Lebanon that implementation of new industry quality standards will help Lebanese local pharmaceutical companies to better compete with their foreign counterparts.

Additional supervision personnel

Siddiqui said that in addition to improving the safety and quality of products, the new drug production standards will also reduce Lebanese health care costs and make domestic pharmaceutical companies more competitive.

Compared with other countries in the region, such as Jordan and Syria, Lebanon’s indigenously produced drugs have a smaller domestic market share. More than 80% of the country’s medicines need to be imported. This has an adverse effect on Lebanon’s health care expenditures.

About 9 local pharmaceutical companies supply Lebanon with the remaining 20% ​​of medicines. In Lebanon, all pharmaceutical companies conducting business must comply with relevant standards and standards to ensure that pharmaceutical products are always produced and controlled according to international quality standards.

Lebanon’s Minister of Health Ali Hasan Khalil stated that it is necessary to ensure that local drugs are of good quality and price competitive. At the same time, the supervision personnel of the Ministry of Health will be increased to fully prepare for the monitoring of the manufacturers.

Updated GMP Guide

In 2008, the Lebanese Ministry of Health issued a decree formally approving the establishment of a special GMP committee to conduct an assessment of the country's pharmaceutical industry. The main task of the committee is to increase the speed of GMP regulations and ensure that manufacturers comply with this higher quality standard.

The GMP committee consists of experts from the private sector, pharmaceutical scientists from the academic community, the Lebanese Pharmacists Association, the Institute of Pharmaceutical Companies, and senior officials from the Ministry of Health. At the same time, the Committee was surprised to find that the GMP guidelines used in Lebanon were still in 1983.

In 2009, the GMP Committee approved a new directory of guides based on relevant guidelines issued by the WHO to ensure safety and efficacy of medicines.

Speaking on behalf of the organization called "Pharmaceutical Industry Committee," the spokesperson said that pharmaceutical companies should submit their applications to the committee responsible for supervising the implementation of GMP guidelines. The application materials must be sealed and should include all necessary production details for the pharmaceutical company. Only this GMP committee can use these application materials. After reviewing the application materials, the GMP committee will send personnel to visit the pharmaceutical company before further awarding the certificate and further verify their situation.

The application materials include a list of relevant GMPs. The matters involved include organizational responsibilities, personnel information, sources of equipment and raw materials, etc.