OREANDA-NEWS. January 19, 2011. Attending the meeting were decision-makers from the Health Ministry, Finance Ministry, Agency of Medicine, Centre for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCCEC), State Fiscal Principal Inspectorate. Representatives of more pharmaceutical firms, warehouses participated in the meeting as well.

The discussion was focused on the way the government decision No 525 on the regulation regarding the way of approval and registration of the producer prices for medication is being enforced.

The unveiled report shows that 3,100 names of medicines have been introduced in the national register of producer prices for medication. The re-assessments show that the price drop was over 39 per cent. Thus, 10-lei price decreases were recorded for 64 per cent of the re-assessed pharmaceutical goods, a drop of 10-50 lei for almost 30 per cent, a diminution of 50-100 lei for 5.8 per cent of the medicines and a price drop of more than 100 lei for over 2.6 per cent.

Representatives of the concerned field have said that the national register of producer prices for medication will be completed with new prices as the latter are being received. A problem in this respect is registered at the pharmaceutical products imported from Asian countries.

Prime Minister Vlad Filat showed discontent with the fact that not all the names of medicines sold on the domestic market were included in the national register of producer prices for medication till 17 January, although half a year has passed since the approval of the government decision No 525.

The prime minister said that he knows that some local market operators significantly increased the imports of pharmaceutical goods in the last period of 2010 in order have an argument for maintaining the prices.

"We will carry through the implementation of this decision. I know that dragging is often practiced in Moldova. This will not happen in this case, therefore I urge you to prove maximal seriousness and responsibility in this respect," the prime minister said.

Vlad Filat asked the Health Ministry to make a comprehensive assessment of the stocks of strictly necessary medicines, and the CCCEC - the stock of pharmaceutical products. Also, Vlad Filat asked for information on the operators which carried out the imports and who authorized them.

The prime minister asked to assess the situation of the drug stores in rural settlements and the impact of the decision No 525 on them. He also asked for the presentation of the entire set of amendments on the pharmaceutical market's regulation till the government meeting due next week.

Another subject discussed at the meeting was focused on the Moldovan pharmaceutical goods, which have a 17-per cent market share. Vlad Filat asked for a vast analysis on these medicines' quality and price.

CCCEC director Viorel Chetraru said that, already today, more teams of the anti-corruption centre started controls at Moldovan pharmaceutical networks. The teams check the way the decision No 525 is observed, as well as the applied trade supplement, that should not exceed 25 per cent in drug stores and 15 per cent in warehouses.

Health Minister Andrei Usatii said that the ministry he leads takes full responsibility for the implementation of the decision No 525. He gave assurances that proper order will be made in this field, and the pharmaceutical goods will be qualitative and at reasonable prices.

The pharmacists who attended the event said that those who prepared for the implementation of the new regulations, which entered into force on 1 January 2010, do not face problems. They also said that the stocks of pharmaceutical goods, though existing, are very poor. The pharmacists proposed to publish the prices for the pharmaceutical products, included in the national register, in the Official Paper too. The prime minister backed this proposal.

The participants in the meeting also agreed on the prime minister receiving information about the situation on the pharmaceutical market every three days.