British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 1033

CHAPTER XXVI.

(d) Restrictions on the sale of certain essential drugs which were in short supply and in the use of which special economy was necessary. Purchase and sale of these drugs was not permitted without a permit and quarterly returns of stocks were required.

(e) Control of local manufacture of medical supplies, and the use of raw materials for this purpose.

140. The numbers of licences issued to the various classes of dealers in medical supplies are as follows :-

Pharmacists Wholesale dealers Dental dealers Manufacturers

269 65 25 31

141. The prices prescribed in the schedule of maximum wholesale prices were based on cost price at the store of the dealer pins a percentage of profit. The cost price was calculated on the basis of prime cost indicated in the latest available suppliers' catalogues or invoices, to which were added freight and insurance at current rates, customs duty and inland charges. In view of fluctuations in local overhead expenses adjustments have had to be made from time to time in prices and in the percentage of profit permitted to wholesalers and retailers.

142. The majority of the medical products marketed by local manufacturers are simple preparations compounded mainly from imported raw material and packed as tablets or ampoules. They are usually given proprietary names resembling those of similar foreign preparations which had been mainly imported from the Continent before the outbreak of war. This fact, coupled with the encouragement given by the Middle East Supply Centre to the export of local products in an endeavour to save shipping space, has led to a great increase in output and variety.

The chief aims in the control of this class of preparation were:--
(a) the maintenance of a satisfactory standard of quality,

(b) the regulation of production and pricing and

(c) import control of raw material and export control of manufactured preparations.

The prices of the locally-manufactured preparations are relatively high, in several instances exceeding those of similar imported preparations. This is due to the high cost of labour and packing material and to the import duties on raw materials received from abroad.

143. The work of issuing licences for the import and export of medical supplies was taken over by the Controller of Medical

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