The Drug Prices Catalogue that will include the average producer prices will take effect on January 1. Minister of Health Vladimir Hotineanu, in a news conference on December 24, said the catalogue will include 2,000 names of drugs. The profit margin on the drugs must not exceed the catalogue price by 40% (15% for importers and 25% for drugstores and storehouses). After January 17, the Center for Combating Corruption and Economic Crime (CCCEC) will carry out inspections at drugstores and warehouses. The companies that will break the law risk remaining without the license. Before importing the drugs, the companies present the producer price at the price verification and registration office. The specialists of the office examine the prices in 12 countries and select the lowest three prices. The average price is included in the Drug Prices Catalogue of Moldova. “The people will have access to cheaper medications. The state will save tens of million lei on public procurement. The quantity and number of drugs whose prices are covered by the National Health Insurance House will increase,” said Iurie Ciorba, division head at the CCCEC. There are 76 hospital drugstores and 37 pharmaceutical assistance units located in family doctors centers, which have 949 branches in villages.