Health Ministry official, 19 others charged with illegal sale of psychotropic drugs

Head of the State Regulatory Agency for Medical Activities of the Ministry of Health of Georgia Gia Tvalavadze and 19 others have been charged for their involvement in the illegal sale of psychotropic drugs in 15 pharmacies of Tbilisi and Gori, the Georgian State Security Service reported.

The State Security Service said that Tvalavadze was ignoring calls on the Health Ministry hotline, the purpose of which is to report cases of the illegal sale of psychotropic drugs in pharmacies as he was receiving a cut of the profits from the illegal activity. 

The state suffered more than four million GEL in losses due to the illegal sale of the drugs which must have been sold only via prescriptions,” the State Security Service says.

An investigation is underway into the misuse of official authorities and illegal entrepreneurial activity by a group. 

If convicted the detainees may be sentenced to three - five years in prison.