Wafa Ghiryani, Chairperson of the Commission to Dispose of Expired Medicines at the health ministry of the Tripoli-based government, has told Turkey's Anadolu news agency that over 100,000 tonnes of expired medicines have accumulated in Libyan hospitals.
She is quoted by Middle East Monitor as saying that hospitals import drugs directly, not through the Ministry of Health, and without coordination or accurate records.
The stockpile includes drugs to treat illnesses such as cancer, HIV, diabetes and asthma.
A committee has recently been formed, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the General Authority for the Environment in Libya, to dispose of the stockpile.
Libya spent nearly 2.3 billion dinars ($1.67 billion) over the past three years on medicines and medical supplies.
(Source: Middle East Monitor)
(Medicines image via Shutterstock)
