The Head of Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate (EPS), Dr. Mohie Obeid, revealed the intention of his syndicate to expand its sit-in and spread it to various governorates of Egypt, due to Ministry of Health's failure to respond to the demands of the syndicate. He pointed out that the Ministry of Health has not contacted the protesters since the start of the sit-in, indicating the state's efforts and parties' attempts to intervene to resolve the crisis. He said the sit-in is symbolic, and could turn into a full sit-in if necessary.

In an exclusive interview with Arabs Today, Obaid said that the union's demands are not related to a citizen or a company or profits, but it is concerned with maintaining the profession. "These demands are to unify drug prices by adhering to the latest compulsory pricing issued by the Central Administration of Pharmacy Affairs at the Ministry of Health, and returning to the decision No.200 of 2012, on regulating the opening of pharmacies and abolishing the establishment of special institutes for the manufacture of drugs," he added.

He also pointed out that the union called for the commitment to appoint all graduates of pharmacy colleges for the year 2016, and the obligation to pay infection allowances for pharmacists.

"There is no person in the state whose interests contradict our demands, he said, adding that they called to adhere to the decision No.200, to regulate the opening of pharmacies, in addition to the implementation of ministerial decision No. 115 of 2017 issued by the Minister of Health, stressing that communication with the ministry has become very difficult.

He said the ministry has issued a decision to establish institutes for pharmaceutical manufacturing, and our question is, "Is there a deficit in pharmacists until these institutes are opened?"

Dr. Mohie Obeid clarified that he met, on Saturday evening, at the sit-in of the Syndicate of Pharmacists in Garden City, with union's general council and sub-branch councils, to discuss the latest sit-in. "The attendees decided to continue the sit-in at the headquarters of the General Union, and called for an escalation sit-in in five other sub-headquarters in the governorates of Alexandria, Dakahlia, Gharbia, Minya and Assiut," he stated.

Dr. Obeid renewed his appeal to the Presidency of the Republic to intervene to end the dispute between Ministry of Health and Pharmacists Syndicate, and to achieve the legitimate demands of the syndicate.