Irakli Lekvinadze met with the representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO)
The Chairman of the Georgian National Competition Agency, Irakli Lekvinadze met with the representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO). The meeting was attended by Luca Woon Kino, World Health Organization Drugs and Medicines Pricing Expert, Expert in Healthcare issues Tinatin Turdzeladze, First Deputy Chairman of the Competition Agency, Levan Kalanadadze, Head of the Market Monitoring and Analysis Department, Gela Charkviani and Deputy Head of the same department, Giorgi Kedelidze.
At the meeting, Irakli Lekvinadze spoke in detail about the main issues presented during the monitoring process and thanked the health experts for their visit: "We have presented an interim monitoring report to determine the new rules of the game in the pharmaceutical market and to ensure transparency. It is crucial to balance an alleged negative, commercial impact of high market integration and holding structure, as well as neutralizing possible incompatibilities of interests and lucrative relationships. We believe an approach to holdings must be developed and the prescription be generic containing alternatives, which is fundamental leverage for ensuring a competitive environment on the market. Our 11 recommendations were developed based on the best European experience and the analysis of the market structure in the country, as well as the assessment of the legislative regulation, aims significantly reduce the costs incurred by the consumer on medicines- said the Chairman of the Georgian National Competition Agency, Irakli Lekvinadze during the meeting.
In the format of the working meeting, the parties discussed the recommendations issued in the framework of pharmaceutical market monitoring. Expected results, the experience of other countries, how similar reforms have been implemented, how the international practice aftermarket regulation is, and what are the alleged risks, have also been discussed.
Luca Woon Kino noted that the price of medicines is a sensitive issue not only in Georgia but in other countries as well, during the meeting. Recommendations issued by the Agency - in terms of prescription and purpose are as important as the other findings presented during the interim monitoring. The parties expressed their readiness to participate in the working group and to discuss in-depth each issue.
