Georgian National Competition Agency has published the final report on the Pharmaceutical Market Monitoring. According to the report, the Agency gives 13 recommendations to the pharmaceutical market.
The recommendations are as follows:
1). Generic prescription only - It is the most crucial and fundamental leverage for ensuring competition between interchangeable products and increasing the market share of generics. It should be indicated only international, nonproprietary names (generic) of the medicine with the limited trade name in the prescription. Various studies and the experience of many countries have confirmed the financial benefits that consumers receive by purchasing generic medicines, which in turn is directly related to the reduction of spending on medicines;
2). Indication of a generic interchangables - It is advisable to indicate at least one interchangeable with major generic in the prescription;
3). Establishing a unified system of electronic prescription;
4). Continuous prescription control by the field regulators;
5). Quality of medicines - According to the agency, the GMP standard is necessary to operate at both levels of market access to medicines - manufacturing and importing. The industry regulators should ensure that the bioequivalence of generic medicines is checked and the result should be a guarantee that all medicines on the market meet the quality standards set by law;
6). Perfecting treatment guidelines;
7). Control of possible negative consequences of vertical and horizontal market integration - It is important to describe in detail the obligations of the pharmacist to deliver the medicine to the end-user to ensure a healthy competitive environment. In particular, in parallel with the introduction of a generic prescription, it is necessary to regulate the pharmacist’s obligation during purchasing a medicine - to offer the consumer at least 3 medicines with the lowest price;
8). Tightening and effective control of the sanctioning mechanism - The facts of incompatibility of interests described in Article 30 of the Law of Georgia “on Health Care” must have an appropriate sanctioning mechanism, which, given international experience, can be administrative or even criminal liability. As for the issue of administrative liability, the amount of the penalty should be adequate to have a sufficient deterrent / preventive effect;
9). Ensuring maximum transparency and publicity of the relationship between who writes the prescription and the pharmaceutical companies;
10). Review of “free pricing” policy;
11). Limitation of market holding structure - According to the Agency, it is crucial to regulate the non-core activities of economic agents importing / wholesale and retailing of medicines, which excludes the possible negative consequences for the consumer and the overall competitiveness of the market;
12). Ensuring the coexistence of universal and private insurance “filler” packages - For reducing the out-of-pocket expenses for medicines and medical services in general, customers should be able to purchase a private insurance package to fill universal insurance at least in the medication component.
13). Conducting promotion campaigns on generic medicines by the regulators of the field.
