The Committee on Public Health held an Extended Session to discuss Urgent Measures concerning Protection of the Internal Market from Defective and Adulterated Medical Drugs and Medical Goods

13 July 2011, 17:01

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Committee Chairman Tetiana Bakhteyeva opened the session. She informed that hundreds of citizens ask the committee such questions as ‘Why medical drugs sold in the pharmacies are so expensive? Why the drugs are ineffective after a course of treatment? Why the pharmacies located within a few meters from each other have different prices for medical drugs?"  

 

T. Bakhteyeva believes that the failure to form an effective system of supplying quality and affordable medical drugs to the public accounts for this situation in the pharmaceutical market.    

 

T. Bakhteyeva cited statistical data, whereby 97% of people needed medical drugs during the year, and every tenth respondent could not receive them. The People´s Deputies explained the unsatisfied demand in medical drugs by high prices for healthcare products.  

 

T. Bakhteyeva informed about the crucial factors influencing the cost of medical drugs. She stressed that prices are unjustifiably high due to the lack of VAT.  

 

T. Bakhteyeva reminded that on May 31, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill which introduces criminal responsibility for production and distribution of adulterated medical drugs. Two bills on strengthening the state control over the distribution of adulterated medical drugs will be scrutinized in autumn.

 

The committee recommends the Ministry of Public Health to draft proposals concerning amendments to the Law "On Medical Drugs" in part of proper turnover of medical drugs.