They said drug companies use large transport vehicles to transport medicines, as well as sales representatives, which will cause companies losses due to increased fuel prices. The Ministry of Health had agreed to increase the prices of medicine twice, one in May 2016 and another in January 2017, after several demands from companies. The source warned that if the Ministry of Health ignored the demands of foreign companies, will lead some medicines to disappear, as companies will be unable to continue production while losing. He told Daily News Egypt that drugs are a commodity priced by the Ministry of Health, and drug companies will not be able to increase their prices, such as transportation and food companies, except through a ministerial decision. Mohi Hafez, member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber, said that the decision to increase fuel prices will negatively affect the profitability of pharmaceutical companies during the coming period.

Source: Daily News Egypt July 12, 2017 16:07 UTC