Azerbaijan needs state pharmacopoeia and drug registry

- Do you, as a doctor, agree with the opinion of specialists about our drug market? What problems do doctors and people create for these fake drugs?

- In Azerbaijan, there are still very serious problems in the entire system of circulation of medicinal substances - from import, production of some uncomplicated drugs to disposal. Naturally, consumers, first of all, are suffering from this, that is, the sick and the people involved in their treatment. In the market of low-quality medicines, drugs abound. Why is all this happening?

Because, even though we have gained independence, we still do not have compulsory medical insurance (CMI); but the CMI is an important part of medical care and an essential element of social protection as well. In its absence, the drug market itself cannot function normally. Because most drugs are usually sold in a compulsory health insurance package. And for this it is necessary that they meet certain quality parameters.

The fact is that medicinal substances are imported to our country from Europe, Asia, India, Iran, and other countries. There are various opinions on their quality parameters. Doctors do not have the opportunity to check them. These drugs are tested in the relevant laboratories of the Ministry of Health and then put into circulation. The main condition is considered to be the actual presence of active substances in medicines in sufficient, that is, in optimal doses.

It is necessary to take into account the fact that in every medicine there are also substances that give it color, taste, structure, stabilize, preserve it, ensuring safety. This is not a separate medicine, but supplements, the quality parameters of which also significant. Because, although at present some salts of heavy metals and others have been excluded from registry as a medicinal additive, but in some countries continue to use them. And this is one of the important issues.

- At present, there are three pharmaceutical companies producing pharmaceuticals in the country. In the coming years, several more such enterprises will be created in order to establish local production of medicines. Do you think that Azerbaijan has a base, prospects, highly qualified specialists for the production of high-quality medicines? And in general, can local production meet the needs of the population? And can it contribute to eradicating the market for counterfeit drugs?

- I would like to note that at present in the pharmacy chains one can also see drugs - various essences, extracts, tinctures, etc., made from herbs, plants based on oriental recipes. Almost all of these plants grow in Azerbaijan. We have great resources in this area. In that case, why can't we build medicinal plants here? After all, it is possible to start the production of medicines, at least a few species, from these herbs and plants, etc. And this would be a very big advance in solving some issues.

- In December 2014, by introducing amendments to the Law "On Medicinal Products", the prices of medicines made to the state registration were subject to state regulation. And in March 2015, by the decree of the head of state, the government and the Tariff Council were entrusted with regulating and controlling the prices of medicines. How can the state in other forms exercise control over the pharmaceutical market?

- Indeed, we are very interested and worried about the quality parameters of drugs that enter the country, as this is a very important question for the gene pool. In Azerbaijan, one of the biggest problems is the lack of state pharmacopoeia and the register of medicinal substances. Until these structures are created, chaos will reign in the drug market.

In the presence of the State Pharmacopoeia Agency, everything - both imported drugs and the drugs produced in the country- medicinal substances are included in it, which allows the population to be informed about the drugs. It also provides public control over them. So do all over the world, all normal, developed countries have their own state pharmacopoeia, the state register of medicinal substances, and other registries - therapeutic agents, and others.

That is, it is so important for the gene pool that in every country - in the USA, England, Germany, and others - it is called the national pharmacopoeia. Any country imports and exports drugs. In some countries, the pharmacological industry is highly developed, while in others they do not consider it necessary. But in any case, all these countries very seriously control the quality of medicines, whether local or foreign. Because the gene pool, the fate of a nation directly depends on this. And the concept of drug safety should be an integral part of the concept of national security. Because from the outside the human body receives food, water, air, and medicines. With all this, we update our body, and our genes pass on to future generations. Therefore, this issue should be given very serious attention.

- In general, what can be done to make the pharmaceutical market healthier, better, and high-quality, low-cost medicines more accessible to people? What do you advise? What steps should the government take? How should all these issues be regulated?

- Unfortunately, there are a lot of complaints, often well-founded, on the poor quality of medicinal substances. Sometimes from the prescribed drugs, even expensive ones, we do not get the expected effect. All this causes a lot of suspicion. I believe that in order to normalize, streamline, systematize the drug market, we must take the path that the rest of the world follows.

In this case, there is no need for additional incentives for the sale of drugs. However, today our pharmacies, and firms as well, are most interested in selling drugs in order to survive. Therefore, sometimes there are some incidents between doctors and firms. Streamlining the drug market can easily prevent them.

This is how I see a solution to this issue. If we organize our work in this way, start the local production of medicinal substances, we can also reduce the prices of medicines. In addition, customs duties imposed on drugs imported into the country should be minimal. If expensive medicines are produced in the country, then they can be sold to the population at low prices. Because it is necessary to take into account the capability of the population.