• Economy
    Jan 16, 2025

    Navigating Lebanon’s Economic Crisis: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategic Solutions for the Pharmaceutical Sector

    • Rasha Hamra
    Navigating Lebanon’s Economic Crisis: Challenges, Opportunities,  and Strategic Solutions for  the Pharmaceutical Sector

    This policy paper is supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Beirut Office. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the donor.


    This policy paper emphasizes the critical role of Lebanon's pharmaceutical sector in ensuring healthcare access, economic stability, and self-reliance amidst ongoing crises. It outlines major challenges, including regulatory deficiencies, reliance on imports, and the collapse of subsidies, which have caused shortages and increased drug prices. The paper proposes actionable strategies to rebuild and sustain the sector, such as promoting local manufacturing, enhancing regulatory frameworks, leveraging public-private partnerships, and aligning policies with global standards. It highlights the importance of innovation, research, and development to improve competitiveness and reduce reliance on imports. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and collaboration across stakeholders, this policy paper envisions a robust pharmaceutical sector capable of meeting the health needs of the population and contributing to economic recovery.

    Rasha Hamra holds a PharmD, a master’s in public health, and a Doctorate in Health, with over 13 years of experience at Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, where she led critical pharmaceutical reform initiatives. She also spent two years at the World Health Organization’s Lebanon office, where she contributed to the development of key national strategies. Currently, she is an independent public health expert dedicated to strengthening Lebanon’s public health sector.
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