BEIRUT: Health Minister Wael Abu Faour filed lawsuits Thursday against two pharmaceutical companies for overcharging the state for medication used to treat Parkinson's disease.
According to a statement released by the ministry, Abu Faour sued a pharmaceutical import company named Mectapharm and famous drug company Pfizer.
According to the law organizing the pharmacy profession, companies are required to report any fall in prices to the ministry when it occurs, the statement explained.
Firms must not wait for the regular re-pricing process held every five years, the report said, because by that time the company would be turning profits at the expense of the state.
The price of Aricept, which is used by Parkinson's patient was reduced by 59.4 percent for the 10 mg version and by 70.53 percent for the 5 mg pills, the statement said, and the ministry was not notified.
Because the case is related to reporting, Pfizer's national sales manager for Lebanon, Samer Ramadan, was also referred to the judiciary over the case.
The case said the two companies committed “negligence leading to fraud,” and demanded they return the money to the state.
Separately, the Health Ministry also referred to north Lebanon’s State Prosecution office the results of lab tests for candy confiscated at Tripoli’s port.
The results indicated a violation of food safety standards, the ministry said in a statement.
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