Public Health Minister Meets Pharmaceutical Sector Representatives to Ensure Affordable and Quality Medicines

The Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, held a meeting in his office with representatives of major pharmaceutical wholesalers, importing companies, and pharmacy unions.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister for Food and Drugs of the Ministry of Public Health, Mawlawi Hamdullah Zahid, along with a number of other officials. Discussions focused on controlling medicine prices, preventing hoarding, and ensuring the availability and proper management of quality medicines in the market.

His Excellency Jalali described the supply of high-quality medicines at reasonable prices as a shared responsibility, stressing that all stakeholders must fulfil their role in this regard. He said Afghanistan’s market is no longer dependent on a single source, adding that efforts are underway to address existing challenges in the pharmaceutical sector and to explore alternative routes for the supply of quality medicines.

Meanwhile, representatives of the unions rejected what they described as foreign rumours suggesting a shortage of medicines or emerging problems in the market. They said such claims were unfounded and part of a propaganda campaign by certain external circles. The officials stated that there is currently an adequate supply of medicines in the market and that no major problems have been encountered so far, reassuring the public that patients will not face shortages in accessing treatment.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Hamdullah Zahid highlighted the work of inspection and monitoring teams, saying that efforts would continue to ensure sustained access for all to quality medicines at affordable prices.