Egyptian pharmacists syndicate determined to hold general strike

The under secretary-general of Egypt’s pharmacists’ syndicate has denied reports about a possible cancellation of the general strike planned for 12 February, stressing that these are “rumours” that government entities are spreading to foil the strike.

Mustafa El-Wakeel said in press remarks that the Ministry of Health and pharmaceutical companies are spreading the rumours and trying to incite Egyptian citizens against pharmacists and against their planned strike.

El-Wakeel added that the syndicate insisted on holding the strike because of the surge in drug prices, and that their objective is to support ordinary citizens who “cannot afford their bread and butter”, which meant that ordinary citizens could not afford drugs given the current prices.

He noted that the prices of medicines needed by many patients with diabetes, blood pressure diseases and heart disease saw a significant rise despite the fact that the government had previously refused to increase the prices of those specific medicines.

The under secretary-general pointed out that the syndicate’s sub syndicates across the country’s provinces will hold general assemblies in conjunction with the strike in order to take further decisions in the event that pharmacists fail to reach a settlement with the government, represented by the Ministry of Health in talks.

Pharmacists are in a state of anger at the health minister’s “random” decisions that they claim were taken unilaterally, and without consulting with pharmacists.

The syndicate has reassured citizens that during the strike, each neighbourhood in the country will keep one pharmacy open for emergencies.