Shortages of epilepsy drug for children “artificially induced” by companies to hike price - Health Minister

Zurab Azarashvili, the Georgian Health Minister, on Friday said the recent shortages of an epilepsy drug for children had been allegedly “artificially induced” by companies on the market with the aim of hiking the price on the product. 

In his press comments, the official refrained from naming the companies due to an ongoing investigation into the matter, but stressed they had about 7,000 packages in stocks and refused to put them for sale to artificially cause increases in price. 

The official said his body had “immediately reacted” to complaints by parents and medical professionals over the absence of medication at pharmacies over the past several days, checked databases of the companies and made a legal response to the situation. 

Calling the incident “sad”, Azarashvili claimed his body would have a “proper response” to such cases, and pledged to take further steps to prevent such violations.