Damascus, Jan. 28 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Health and the General Authority for Ports and Customs discussed mechanisms to enhance coordination and remove logistical obstacles to the import of medicines and medical equipment through border crossings, in a bid to secure national health needs.
Health Minister Dr. Musab Al-Ali met with Qutaiba Badawi, head of the General Authority for Ports and Customs, on Wednesday at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus. The two sides stressed the need to find urgent solutions to ensure the supply of specialized medicines, particularly cancer drugs and biological treatments, amid ongoing challenges in global pharmaceutical supply chains.
Al-Ali underlined the importance of strengthening institutional coordination to address regulatory gaps, calling for the adoption of a “pre-order” mechanism in cooperation with the Ports and Customs Authority. He said the mechanism would help accelerate customs clearance procedures and ensure the timely delivery of medicines to patients.
For his part, Badawi said the authority is ready to provide exceptional facilitations to suppliers contracted with the state, including prior review of shipment lists for sensitive pharmaceutical consignments, while tightening oversight measures and preventing smuggling attempts.
The two sides agreed on the immediate implementation of the prior coordination mechanism and on granting top priority to cancer medicines and emergency medical supplies, describing the cooperation as a key step toward strengthening sustainable pharmaceutical security.
The meeting comes as part of broader efforts to ensure the continued availability and safety of specialized medicines, particularly oncology drugs and biological therapies, which require close institutional coordination among relevant authorities.
The General Authority for Ports and Customs was established under Presidential Decree No. 244 of 2025 as an entity with financial and administrative independence, directly linked to the Presidency of the Republic, with the aim of enhancing oversight and improving performance at border crossings.
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