Closure of 13 Pharmaceutical Agencies and Importers in Mukalla for Failing to Comply with New Pricing Regulations

Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:

A joint committee in Coastal Hadhramaut—comprising the local branch of the Supreme Authority for Medicines and the Offices of Health and Industry—closed down 13 agencies and branches of pharmaceutical and medical supplies importers in the city of Mukalla on Wednesday. The closures were due to their violation of a circular issued by the Supreme Authority for Medicines and their failure to submit updated, reduced price lists that reflect the improvement in the national currency’s exchange rate.

These measures were taken following the expiration of the deadline outlined in the circular, with support from security forces. The closures are part of a field inspection campaign launched by Dr. Ahmed Salem Basreh, Deputy Governor of Hadhramaut for Administrative and Financial Affairs, in accordance with directives from Governor Mabkhout Mubarak bin Madi. The campaign aims to regulate the prices of medicines and medical supplies in line with the current economic conditions.

The campaign targeted branches of pharmaceutical companies and agencies in Mukalla, emphasizing the need to further reduce prices in accordance with currency stability, in order to alleviate the burden on citizens.

Ahmed Abdullah Al-Hamid, Director of Medical Supply and Pharmacy at the Health Office and a member of the committee, confirmed that the inspections will continue and will soon include pharmacies. He called on the administrations of agencies and companies to comply with the updated pricing and expedite the submission of the required price lists in service to the community and to ease its suffering.