The draft law to supplement the Law on Medicines contains a series of deficiencies, said experts of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”, who analyzed the document that was proposed for public debates. The experts referred to the unjustifiably high density of drugstores and the risks related to sale of drugs through specialized shops. According to them, the traceability and flow of medicines are not sufficiently efficient and there is a risk that products of a low quality and counterfeits will enter the market.

Expert in pharmaceutical policy Maria Cojocaru-Toma said the identified risks and impediments will ultimately lead to serious deviations in the state policies in this sector. As a result, drug prices could go up. The unjustified and uncontrolled consumption of drugs could increase.

The expert underlined the necessity of conducting a profound and multidimensional analysis to assess the impact of the bill on the population, including from rural areas, so as to ensure the protection of the people’s right to pharmaceutical assistance. The changes in the pharmaceutical sector should be fully correlated with the health system reform.

Attending the event, Maria Lapteanu, division head at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, said the necessities of the population will be taken into account, especially as regards drugstores.