Subsidies Completely Lifted Off Baby Formula

The Ministry of Public Health announced today that subsidies have been completely lifted off baby formula (for infants aged between 0 and 12 months old) and shared the new price list that is to be adopted by the market.

The average 400g baby formula, which lasts 3 days on average, now costs upwards of 330,000 LL depending on the manufacturer.

Pharmacists from all over Lebanon have reported the desperation of new parents as they looked for baby formula, which have been out of stock for months. Pharmaceutical companies have held back from supplying pharmacies with necessary products, including baby formula and chronic medications, presumably awaiting the complete lifting of subsidies so that the products may be sold at higher prices.

The most common baby formulas in Lebanon include: Nursie, Novalac, Aptamil, Nan, Bebelac, Similac, and Lactomil.

New prices: 336,000LL – 375,500LL (depending on the age range).

*This does not include the price of special formulas.

The prices of these products have increased by over 30-fold, priced at around 11,000LL prior to the economic crisis and 135,000LL just last week. It is unclear as to whether baby formula will be back on the market following the price increase.

Below is the public price list shared by the Ministry of Public Health.