Health Ministry says over 500 medicines “proactively” registered for simplifying import
The Regulation Agency for Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities of Georgia has “proactively” registered 563 medicines. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Regulation Agency for Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities of Georgia has “proactively” registered 563 medicines to simplify their import for domestic companies, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday.
Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili said the regulatory body was registering “various medicines” without involvement of pharmaceutical companies with the aim of widening access to drugs for patients in the country.
Pharmaceutical companies can directly import these drugs into the country without any bureaucracy”, the Minister said.
He also noted cases of companies “deliberately” failing to register potentially more affordable drugs to prevent competitors from introducing them to the domestic market, in comments explaining the goals behind the Ministry’s push to register the products.
The Georgian Government’s Interagency Commission has been authorised to set wholesale prices for select pharmaceutical products by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, in the latest move designed to effect a reduction of domestic costs of medication.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, on Thursday, visited the first Drug Quality Control Laboratory in Georgia and said the Government had invested ₾11 million (about $4 mln) into the “ultra-modern” laboratory, which was essential for the Georgian people and the country.
Georgian Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili on Monday said the Ministry would finance "year-long medication needs" for oncology patients and was in talks with drug manufacturers.
The Georgian National Competition Agency on Monday said it had started inspecting four companies in the Georgian pharmaceutical market following “sharp increase” by them in prices of medicines for chronic and oncological illnesses.
A new bill will allow the Georgian Government to purchase “innovative” medical drugs at discounted prices, in a bid to improve access to the products for customers, the Government Administration revealed on Monday.