Antitrust committee targets medical institutions
15:09 – 21.02.12
The State Committee for Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) has
observed violations in 109 medical institutions as a result of recent
inspections.
It has launched administrative proceedings against 15 pharmaceutical
companies and 15 medical institutions found in breach of competition
rules.
`The medical institutions did not announce contests in a manner
prescribed by the law,’ the head of the Committee, Artak Shaboyan,
told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the contests very often bore a
formal character.
He said 109 out of the 134 medical institutions had breached the fair
competition rules.
As for the pharmaceutical companies, he noted that only one of them
won bids permanently, leaving behind other six others that did not
meet certain criteria because of technical problems.
Manuk Mikaelyan, a Committee member also attending the news
conference, said further that violations were observed in the
procedures of providing free or discounted drugs to the socially
disadvantaged.
`Twenty-eight medical institutions were to launch a contest to acquire
dugs that they were later supposed to distribute free of charge or at
discounted prices. But they did not announce a bid and purchased the
medicines from organizations they chose at their discretion,’ he said.
The Committee’s findings have shown that several medical institutions
voluntarily refused to sign contracts with organizations that were
declared winners in contests.
Shaboyan added all the companies engaged in the acquisition and free
distribution of state-donated medicines had come under inspections. As
to the companies facing proceeding, he promised to unveil their names
at the Committee’s next session.
Tert.am