Over 30 pharmaceutical factories halt production in Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – More than 30 pharmaceutical factories in Syria ceased production, contributing to a worsening shortage of medications across the country’s healthcare system, a senior official from the Syrian Ministry of Health told North Press on Saturday.
Zuhair Qarat, Director of Planning and International Cooperation at the Ministry, said that Syrian hospitals are facing a notable shortage of essential medicines, a problem observed during recent field visits to hospitals in Daraa, Homs, and Hama.
He attributed the crisis to several factors beyond international sanctions, including the shutdown of over 30 local pharmaceutical factories and a decline in medical aid and humanitarian support.
Qarat emphasized that sanctions have had a broad and detrimental effect on Syria’s healthcare sector.
“They have not only made it difficult to obtain medications but have also severely hampered the import of advanced medical equipment such as CT scanners and MRI machines,” he said.
Qarat added, “This is particularly concerning when it comes to critical treatments like cancer care, which requires high-quality, specialized drugs that we can no longer easily access.”
He noted that reliance on a narrow set of countries for pharmaceutical imports has further compounded the issue. “Many of these countries do not produce medicines with the required efficacy,” Qarat explained.
Although certain sanctions on medical facilities were recently lifted, Qarat stated that this has not translated into tangible improvements.
He cited the case of the Children’s Hospital in Damascus, where international sanctions blocked a previously approved payment for a new CT scanner, despite the hospital being exempted from restrictions.
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Health is exploring temporary measures such as boosting domestic production, though Qarat admitted this will only meet 20–30 percent of current demand.
He indicated that the ministry is seeking to collaborate with international partners to help secure the needed medications and medical supplies.