There is no state control over imported medicines in Azerbaijan, the vice healthcare minister, Elsevyar Agayev told Trend.
This sort of control exists in Iran and Turkey. We have objective reasons not to have it. Admittedly, there is no control over drug prices in Russia and Ukraine where most of the medicines are coming from.
The number of imported to the country medicines has significantly increased since 1996, minister said. The main reason is interest of the foreign pharmaceutical companies to the local market and impossibility to register drug in short terms, Agayev said.
Medicines are imported into the country by the special agreement with the healthcare ministry. Because of the absence of the price control from the healthcare ministry and tax ministry, drug prices are reducing in 10 times. This is another problem we are facing, he warned.
He added that an article on criminal responsibility for producing fake medicines should be added to the draft law on medicines.