OV explains decision on abolishing instruction on drug prices

Through a media communique, the Health Ministry has pledged that it would support pharmacists and regulation of Kosovo's pharmaceutical market only in accordance with the legal provisions in force.

It also says in response that the Ministry of Health is a competent body for policy drafting and implements the laws of a non-discrimination and responsible health care system; sets standards and sets out guidelines for the health sector.

This is the full response:

02/2019 Administratorial Guide to regulate prices of products and medical equipment has regulated the methodology of determining the price of products based on reference states based on official resources.

In the absence of official lists by reference states, the Commission for Determining Prices has defined prices based on non-official lists - contrary to the legal provisions of this administrative guidance. This UA has also imposed the withdrawal of certain quality products from European and global states.

As for setting prices from the country of origin, 02/2019 Administrative Guide provisions for fixing the price of products and medical equipment have defined different ways for methodology and setting product prices.

According to the mentioned issues in the Commission's report on complaints as the second final instance in general administrative procedure, this UA is not applicable.

Similarly, the Department of Health Department, based on the Commission's report on complaints, has proposed that the possibility of the paper regulating the price of medicines be considered for this policy.

For correct information, it has addressed the request for the initiative of the procedure for proving the existence of conflict of interest and its consequences to the Anti-Corruption Agency, with reasonable suspicion of conflict of interest for two members of this commission, one who has represented the Ministry of Health and the other member who represented the Kosovo Pharmacists' House in determining the prices of medical products, being the member of the OFK is the owner of the minority districts and co-owner of a pharmaceutical chip.

The Ministry of Health has also initiated the demand of the general audience for reviewing the regulation of this process.

Department of Health with Decision No. Protocol 05-4834 d't. 04/08/2020 has abolished Administrative Guide, No.02/2019 for fixing prices of products and medical equipment, which paves the way for the policy of determining drug prices to be put on legal track, to repair pharmaceutical sector in the interest of the population, rather than in the service of interest groups.

This decision authorises the MS Secretary-General to take action towards drafting the concept of the document to regulate the price of drugs in order to avoid equality, monopoly and not quality quality quality in the pharmaceutical market, which has considerable social and economic impact.

The minister of Health vows to support pharmacists and regulation of the Kosovo pharmaceutical market only in accordance with the legal provisions in force.

According to Article 8. 04/L-125 P SERVANT, the Ministry of Health is a competent body for policymaking and implements the laws of a non-disciplinary and responsible health care system; sets standards and sets out guidelines for the health sector.