Pharmacists Syndicate calls on gov’t to pay JD160m debt

AMMAN — The government owes approximately JD160 million in payments to pharmaceutical companies, according to the head of the Pharmacists Syndicate, Zeid Al Kilani. 

In a statement released on Monday, Kilani said that pharmaceutical companies suffer from a shortage of liquidity, which threatens their ability to secure medical supplies.

He said that the union addressed the government several times to pay the claims of the pharmaceutical companies, but only JD20 million of debts was paid.

Kilani stated that the period for submitting drug bids to the health sector has ended, and that pharmaceutical companies cannot import medicines.

The pharmacists syndicate chief held the government responsible in the event that medicines were cut off from the public and private sectors.

He noted that the strategic stock of medical supplies “has begun to run out”.

He pointed out that some debts owed by the public sector are more than four years old, especially those of university hospitals. 

Although JD50 million was allocated in the budget, it was not disbursed to those who are entitled to it, Kilani said.

However, the Ministry of Health denied that there is a shortage of medical supplies, affirming the availability of all medicines in its warehouses, hospitals and health centres, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The ministry, in a statement on Monday, said that the warehouses and hospitals of the Health Ministry have sufficient stock of medical supplies, which covers their needs until March 2022.

The statement said that there is at least one alternative for every medication.

The Ministry of Finance has committed to paying JD20 million in favour of pharmaceutical companies, of which JD10 million will be disbursed during this week, and JD10 million during next month, the Health Ministry said.

A meeting was held on September 21 with suppliers from pharmaceutical companies and warehouses to discuss the indebtedness of the various government agencies.

The meeting, attended by representatives from the ministries of health and finance, discussed the amounts disbursed to pharmaceutical companies during this year, which amounted to some JD40 million and paid by the Ministry of Health, the statement said.

The Health Ministry also said that the Government Procurement Department has paid another JD55 million of due payments of the health sector — the Health Ministry, the Royal Medical Services and university hospitals — in favour of companies and warehouses of medical supplies during this year.

The Finance Ministry transferred JD13 million during this year for medical services in hospitals and university hospitals, in return for the commitment of these hospitals to pay for pharmaceutical companies.

The Finance Ministry also committed to paying JD50 million of debt to companies and warehouses of medical supplies during the first quarter of 2022, according to the statement.