Caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad announced the removal of subsidies on all types of baby milk due to the absence of a plan to control smuggling and selling it in the market.

"Milk is not like any other medicine, and its movement cannot be tracked because it does not have a barcode. In addition, its purchase does not require a prescription, which makes it easy to buy large quantities of baby formula without any control," he pointed out.

The Minister of Public Health added: "The Ministry has noticed that the large quantities of imported subsidized milk, which exceed the country's needs and are almost sufficient for two countries, have been disappearing from the market shortly after their arrival.”

Abiad went on to explain that for all of the reasons above, a decision has been taken to stop subsidizing milk. 

“We have been informed by importing companies of their willingness to secure baby milk in large quantities after subsidies are lifted,” he added. 

Moreover, the Minister of Public Health also announced the ministry's decision to replace purchasing nine Brand medicines for cancerous and incurable diseases with alternatives (Biosimilar) that are guaranteed in quality and efficacy, but at lower prices. 

“This allows the purchase of a larger quantity of medicines for the benefit of a larger number of patients,” Abiad explained, noting that the medicine is approved in France, the United States, and various developed countries.