Pharmacists call on gov’t to give broader authority to sell products, offer services

AMMAN — The pharmaceutical sector urges the government to allow pharmacies to introduce a wider range of products and to offer paid services for patients, according to a sector representative.

The Jordan Food and Drug Administration announced that by the end of the year, 873 pharmaceutical products’ prices will be reduced. 

The Jordan Pharmacists Association stated that it supports any decision that serves Jordanians’ interests, however, a price reduction will negatively affect all pharmacies’ profits.

“Managerial costs for pharmacies have not been modified since the 1970s, although rentals, salaries and operational costs for pharmacies are increasing dramatically,” Zeid Kilani, from the Jordanian Pharmacists Association, told The Jordan Times.

Kilani noted that only 6 per cent of medication prices cover managerial costs and the percentage is fixed for all the pharmacies in Jordan.

The profit margin for any medication does not exceed 15 per cent, he continued.

Kilani highlighted that the association supports the decision to reduce the prices for medications as it will affect the availability and affordability of medicine, therefore, serving the interest of Jordanians and insurance companies.

“We are also willing to train and license pharmacists in order to introduce a ‘Para pharmacy’ concept in Jordan,” Kilani stated. 

Kilani said that “Para pharmacy” is compounding medications and creams for patients, which do not require a prescription. “This is very beneficial for pharmacies because it allows them to provide a wider range of products, thus serving the public,” he added. 

The Kingdom’s pharmaceutical exports “will be highly affected by this decision", a pharmacist who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Jordan Times. 

He added that some of the Kingdom’s top exports are pharmaceuticals and obligating pharmaceutical companies to reduce their prices, while keeping the same amount of sales and export taxes will harm the sector. 

Moreover, when the price of the original medication brand is reduced, it will also affect the price of generic brands, further decreasing pharmacies’ profits, he noted.

“Offering highly demanded services at drug stores is widely accepted and convenient for people,” Farah Qudah, a pharmacist, told The Jordan Times. 

Qudah added that measuring sugar levels, blood pressure or even giving a patient a vaccine is very common in pharmacies in Jordan, it only needs to be regulated. 

“Pharmacists are trained and certified to perform non-emergency tests for patients,” Qudah noted.

“Therefore, we urge the government to provide broader authority for pharmacists to order and administer tests for patients,” she added.