Libya’s National Security Advisor, Ibrahim Bushnaf, has warned that the country’s current drug import policies pose a significant threat, calling for stricter regulations and oversight. Speaking at a scientific symposium titled “Pharmaceutical Security in Libya – Policies Between Reality and Reform” in Benghazi on Wednesday, Bushnaf emphasised the need for urgent reforms to ensure safe and affordable access to medicine.
He stressed that imported drugs must be subject to strict health standards in terms of reception, storage, and distribution to guarantee their quality and safety. He highlighted that weak regulations have allowed the entry of substandard medications, putting public health at risk.
Bushnaf pointed out that such symposiums provide an opportunity to develop effective solutions and recommendations to address legislative weaknesses in Libya’s pharmaceutical sector. He urged serious action to ensure a secure and well-regulated drug market.
Among his key proposals were enforcing strict oversight to prevent the entry of non-compliant medications, revising pharmaceutical laws to align with Libya’s healthcare needs, and regulating drug prices to prevent monopolies. He also called for stronger cooperation between health and regulatory authorities to enhance pharmaceutical security.
Libya’s Parliament-designate Health Minister, Othman Abdel-Jalil, echoed Bushnaf’s concerns. He called for new legislation to centralise drug imports under a single authority to improve oversight. Abdel-Jalil warned about the spread of “popular markets,” where medicines are sold unofficially without regulatory approval.
He revealed that a large proportion of medicines in Libyan pharmacies lack official clearance, posing a direct risk to citizens’ health. He blamed this on administrative mismanagement and the absence of a unified regulatory body overseeing drug imports and distribution.
Abdel-Jalil cited Tunisia’s centralised drug import system as an example of effective regulation, ensuring strict quality control over imported medicines. He recalled that Libya had a well-organised pharmaceutical system in the 1970s and 1980s before reforms in 2006 led to regulatory chaos and corruption.
He urged urgent action to stabilise Libya’s pharmaceutical sector and protect public health. He called for all relevant authorities to cooperate in implementing clear mechanisms to provide safe and high-quality medicines through secure channels.
