Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The city of Taiz witnessed a partial strike on Saturday carried out by dozens of pharmacists, accompanied by a protest in front of the governorate building, demanding a reduction in drug prices which they described as “unfair” and not reflective of the improvement in the local currency exchange rate.
Around 81 pharmacies participated in the strike, partially closing their doors in a move aimed at pressuring authorities to intervene and compel pharmaceutical companies to adopt fair pricing that would enable patients to access treatment at affordable costs.
Protesters accused drug companies of “exploitation and greed,” noting that some companies had increased prices by up to 80%, while the reductions they implemented did not exceed 30% despite the decline in the dollar’s exchange rate. The pharmacists considered this disparity a form of illicit profiteering at the expense of patients’ health and suffering.
They warned that the continuation of such policies would lead to a severe medicine crisis, further exacerbating citizens’ hardships amid difficult economic conditions and rising living costs.
Pharmacists affirmed their determination to escalate their actions, threatening to expand the strike in the coming days if local authorities and oversight bodies fail to meet their demands. They stressed that ensuring fairness for patients and regulating the drug market is a priority that cannot be delayed.
