The indiscriminate prescription of medications has become a rampant problem eroding Lebanon's healthcare sector, with no oversight or regulation to curb the actions of doctors who sell their prescriptions for personal financial gain.
In a country where materialism has overtaken values of human dignity, some doctors and pharmacists are violating professional ethics, turning the prescribing of medication from a therapeutic act into a profitable business driven by quick financial gain, particularly as Lebanon grapples with its severe economic crisis.
Some doctors have taken it upon themselves to prescribe psychiatric medications, while pharmacists facilitate their dispensing. To what extent do these doctors honor the ethical codes of their profession, and the Hippocratic Oath, which calls for practicing medicine with dedication, integrity, and care for the well-being of patients? And to what extent are pharmacists in Lebanon following the ethical guidelines of their profession?
Unfortunately, Lebanon is witnessing a troubling trend where some doctors are tarnishing this noble profession by selling prescriptions for psychiatric drugs and sedatives.
According to Huna Lebanon, these doctors are selling prescriptions for medications such as Rivotril, Tramal, and Benzexol to patients who are already drug addicts, charging up to 400,000 Lebanese pounds per prescription. In some cases, prescriptions are sold in bulk, with three prescriptions going for one million Lebanese pounds.
What exacerbates the problem is that these prescriptions are often issued by non-specialist doctors, lacking any details on their intended use. Most recipients don’t use them for medical treatment, but rather for recreational drug use.
It is not uncommon for patients to visit multiple doctors to obtain several prescriptions, enabling them to buy larger quantities of drugs.
The reckless practice of random prescribing has become a widespread issue that is undermining the healthcare sector. No authority or regulatory body is taking meaningful action to stop these doctors who readily issue prescriptions in exchange for financial reward, with little regard to the potential harm this causes to the patients or to society at large.
Some pharmacists, complicit in these actions, disregard professional ethics as they fill these prescriptions without hesitation. Is it ethical for pharmacists to dispense psychiatric medications in such an unchecked and careless manner?
Sohail Gharib, a member of the Pharmacists Syndicate, told Huna Lebanon that “most pharmacists do not dispense medication to patients if they suspect they will be misused. Pharmacists must adhere to ethical standards when practicing their profession, not just legal ones. However, some pharmacists, lacking integrity, do dispense psychiatric prescriptions even when they have concerns about misuse, provided the prescription is valid.”
Gharib also highlighted that “there are drugs commonly used for recreational purposes that do not require a prescription and are sold in pharmacies. This represents a failure on the part of the Ministry of Health, which has not implemented clear guidelines for their regulation.”
He concluded by stating, “This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed at its core. The individuals responsible for facilitating access to these prescriptions—doctors and pharmacists alike—must be held accountable. We also urge pharmacists to investigate each prescription thoroughly to determine its true purpose and to whom it is being dispensed.”
The question remains: Will the Ministry of Health and the Pharmacists take decisive action to address this growing problem, or will it continue unchecked, leaving this crisis to worsen?
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