Georgian PM visits pharmacy to inspect effects of Turkish-imported medicines, new regulations
Garibashvili spoke to pharmacists and customers and noted the “priority” of his Government to “maximise access” to medical drugs while ensuring the high quality of the products made using the Good Manufacturing Practices standard. Photo: Government's Administration.
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Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili visited a Tbilisi pharmacy on Thursday to inspect the effects of the recent Government initiatives on reducing prices on the Georgian market by importing drugs from Turkey and launching a new prescription system.
In the visit the PM inquired about the demand for imported medicines and the practical use of the system of electronic and generic prescriptions, the Government Administration said.
Garibashvili spoke to pharmacists and customers and noted the “priority” of his Government to “maximise access” to medical drugs while ensuring the high quality of the products made using the Good Manufacturing Practices standard.
The changes follow a reform by the Health Ministry aimed at making the Georgian pharmaceutical sector “transparent and accessible” while offering high-quality medicines to citizens.
Photo: Government's Administration.
The initiative includes new prescriptions that can only be issued for drugs under generic or international titles - instead of specific brands - to enable customers to pick products of their choice during purchase.
Under the new regulations, doctors are prohibited from issuing prescriptions for products under their trade name, while pharmacists will be required to offer customers equivalents of three high-quality and cheapest medicines from the prescribed generic type.
The reform also involves the recent start of importation of medical drugs manufactured in Turkey following an initiative by the PM, with the aim of effecting a reduction of prices on the Georgian market.
Imports from the Turkish pharmaceutical market began on January 17, and have resulted in reductions of costs for up to 250 drugs in Georgia - including medicines for chronic diseases - by up to 60-80 percent.
The imported affordable medicines can be purchased at pharmacy chains across Georgia, with the list of involved companies and suppliers constantly growing, the Health Ministry said.