Oda of Pharmacists vs. MSh's decision on official price lists for drugs

The Oda of Kosovo's Pharmacists through a public response has openly voiced opposition to the Ministry of Health's decision to the official list of drug prices.

In their response, they say they object to this decision “because of the counterligibility and the obligation of drug users to take illegal actions to place the price of banners in products, which according to Article 11, paragraph 6 of the Law for the price of medical products in connection with the UA for banners is the obligation of other subjects rather than drugs<1>.

According to the Association of Pharmacists “A day before the implementation of this decision has not yet announced any drugstore on the way to implement this decision, making it impossible to implement this process of determining the price of drugs required by pharmacists now 20 years/”.

“The OFK has been demanding these clarifications from the OFK around the implementation of this decision, which in no case have answered”.

“The OFK recalls public officials and institutions which have been ordered to implement this decision that the implementation of a government order or the superior one for which it has been aware of lawlessness is a criminal offence, and the OFK will recognise all legal ways to meet their criminal work, as defined by Article 16 of the Kosovo Penal Code”, the response follows.

The OFK accuses of failing to co-operate, so it has invited a public explanation of certain actions:

How to handle drugs for about 1700 products that haven't declared the price

On what legislation AKPPM will do the printing of the current stock of drugs and warehouses, and which documents must be handed over by the drugstores since actual legislation does not regulate this issue

What to do with the current stock under tax legislation where a product cannot be sold under the supply price or according to the minister's decision

) The OFK invites the Ministry of Health for extending the transition period for pharmaceutical stock and implementation until the high dilemmas from pharmacists, who cannot implement this decision, are cleared.

For all these actions, the OFK has addressed the Court with indictments in request for the postponement of the execution of this ruling.

The OFK, invites the Ministry of Health to refrain from actions that could bring to the company of unwanted measures by pharmacists and barors for which it will have the support of the OFK in opposition to the lawlessness of the decision and the damage caused by this decision.

Otherwise, the Health Ministry has announced that as of today (February 1st) it will begin implementing the decision on the official list of drug prices.

In the announcement made to the media by the Health Ministry, it is said that by this decision, the biggest beneficiaries will be citizens.

The Ministry of Health reports that an important step is being taken in reforming the pharmaceutical sector, beginning to implement the official list of drug prices, from February 1st 2025. With this we are guaranteeing order and transparency in the pharmaceutical market, in which the largest beneficiaries will be citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. We are aware that the beginning will not be easy, there will be challenges, but we are dedicated that this change brings long-term benefits to all, with particular emphasis on our citizens, said the report.