The President of the Competition Council announced that the operation and supply of pharmacies is under control, especially after complaints related to access, they are trying to find out why patients do not have access to certain drugs. Investigations on anticoagulants and ultrasound are also underway, announced Bogdan Chirițoiu. There are around 8,000 pharmacies in Romania.
“We want to look at how the pharmaceutical market works and in particular how third party pharmacies are supplied by distributors. There are complaints that distributors’ pharmacies have privileged access to drugs over those without a large distribution chain behind them. If we find competitive behavior, there will be investigations and sanctions, “he said RFI RomaniaBogdan Chirițoiu, President of the Competition Council.
“We have recently received several complaints from pharmacies stating that they are unable to access certain drugs for their customers, for patients. That’s why we want to look at how the pharmaceutical market works and in particular how third-party pharmacies. They are supplied by distributors. Generally, large distributors also have their own pharmacies. In the complaints we receive, it is argued that the pharmacies of these distributors have privileged access to drugs over third-party pharmacies, which do not have a large distribution chain. It is an industry survey, “Chirițoiu announced.
“First of all, we look at access to drugs, but at the same time we are also interested in the availability of drugs at a price that is bearable for the state budget, which has more limited resources in Romania than in other countries. (…) We can block the exports if the volume of medicines on the Romanian market falls below what is necessary to supply the Romanian market “, warned the President of the Competition Council.
Investigations on possible abuse of oral anticoagulants and ultrasound market
Bogdan Chirițoiu announces a new investigation underway for anticoagulants, as regards the commercialization of oral ones, and for ultrasounds. He recalls that last year five pharmaceutical companies were fined over 70 million euros for limiting immunoglobulins destined for the Romanian market.
“We currently have an investigation examining the alleged abusive behavior of a major drug manufacturer for anticoagulant products and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease products,” announced the President of the Competition Council.
B. Chirițoiu specified that the ongoing investigation in the pharmaceutical sector is a market analysis that will serve the government and the ministries involved.
“This is a market analysis that will result in recommendations for the government and public authorities involved, in particular the Ministry of Health and the National Medicines Agency. But if we find anti-competitive behavior, investigations and sanctions can also arise. . We are interested in the problems facing companies in this field, be they distribution companies or pharmacies, and any suspicion of anti-competitive behavior, “said Bogdan Chirițoiu, a RFI Romania.
–
