"They buy cheap medicines in India, re-register them in Dubai at a high price, and then send them to Azerbaijan"

New rules for registration of medicines are being established in Azerbaijan. The relevant bill was submitted for discussion at a meeting of the Milli Majlis Committee for Healthcare on March 29. Thus, the deputies were presented the draft law "On Medicines" in the first reading, which was amended.

Amendments to the bill are proposed in several directions. One of the noteworthy points is that the state registration of various medicines under the same trademark is not allowed.

Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Healthcare Ahliman Amiraslanov also told Turan that the project is an important step forward towards solving a problem that has always bothered - simplifying and facilitating the registration of medicines imported into the country. According to the change, if any form of a drug is registered in the country, then other forms of this drug, such as tablets, suspensions, solutions, are also considered registered and can be imported without additional permission, Amiraslanov said.

He stressed that high prices for medicines cause dissatisfaction: "It is necessary to hold negotiations on this issue with the leadership of the Association for the Management of Territorial Units of Medicine (TƏBIB). First of all, it is necessary to provide free medicines to veterans and family members of martyrs who are on outpatient treatment, and at the next stage to create such an opportunity for low-income citizens and pensioners.

According to Amiraslanov, several pharmaceutical plants are planned to be built and used in the Alyat Free Economic Zone, and work is already underway in this direction: "It is aimed at solving the issue of our dependence on foreign countries. If we can do this, we will be able to control both the quality of medicines and low prices." It was impossible to talk about this with the official representatives of TƏBIB.

Aydin Aliyev, one of the founders of the public association "Doctors of Azerbaijan",  also told “Radio Azadlig” that all steps aimed at increasing the prices and quality of medicines deserve praise: "But, unfortunately, the problem with us is that the laws do not work. Our laws are fine, but they do not work. Although the law does not allow it, there is a monopoly on the drug market. Someone creates an intermediary company, buys cheap medicines from India, brings them, and registers them in Dubai at a very high price, and imports them from there to Azerbaijan. If our laws worked, and the state controlled this process, they would not be able to do so. A medicine that costs $1 in India costs $10 here."

The expert stressed that it is necessary to control the mechanism of the laws, eliminate the monopoly: "if the law works, then why are low-quality medicines coming into the country? The doctor prescribes medicine, the patient receives this medicine, but cannot be cured. The doctor's reputation is also ruined, the patient's money is going away, besides, he is not recovering. That is, it is necessary to strictly control both the quality and the price of imported medicines, as well as their storage conditions. On paper, this control exists, but these laws must work."

According to the expert, the local production of medicines in Azerbaijan can have a positive impact on the situation: "We are late in this matter. We have been independent for more than 30 years, but the production of medicines and medical supplies is almost at zero. However, no state in the world can 100 percent meet the needs of its population in medicines. But if we produce some medicines, we will be able to barter with other countries, which will have a positive effect."