Sudanese Ministry acknowledges medicine price hikes

In Khartoum, the Sudanese Federal Ministry of Health has acknowledged that there has been a huge increase in the prices of medicine in the country.

At a forum in Khartoum on Monday, Health Ministry Undersecretary Esam Abdallah attributed the rise in medicine prices to the liberalisation of the Dollar price of medicine.

He said lifting subsidies on medicine and leaving companies operating in the field of buying Dollar from the parallel market is the reason for the instability and the increase in prices.

He pointed out that the government has taken some measures to address the rise of prices of medicine, including support for chronic disease medicines and increase in the budget for free treatment.

Last year, pharmacies in Khartoum were shut down in protest against freeing the Dollar's price of medicine, leading to a 100-200 per cent  increase in the prices of medicines.

El Gedaref

The resident gynaecologist-obstetrician at El Hawata in Sudan’s eastern El Gedaref state has left the town – the state Ministry of Heath reportedly failed to provide him with adequate accommodation since his appointment five months ago.

The residents of El Hawata warned Radio Dabanga of dire consequences as they cannot transfer pregnant women to El Gedaref or Wad Medani because of the rough road that is cut-off during the rainy season.