Armenia’s anti-trust body rules to penalize Natalie Pharm 50 million drams
11.06.2012,
17:46
Armenia’s anti-trust body has ruled today to penalize Natalie Pharm pharmaceutical company in the amount of 50 million drams ‘for abuse of its dominating position in the market.’
YEREVAN, June 11, /ARKA/. Armenia’s anti-trust body has ruled today to penalize Natalie Pharm pharmaceutical company in the amount of 50 million drams ‘for abuse of its dominating position in the market.’ Nine other pharmaceutical companies and 29 hospitals and clinics which had been also examined by the Commission, were warned, Artak Shaboyan, the chairman of the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) said today.
He said the examinations revealed that in some cases medical facilities did not announce tenders for procurement of medicines, which is a mandatory requirement of the law. He said also many tenders were formal because the winner had been known long before.
He said all 29 clinics, hospitals and medical centers are government-owned and besides violations of the rules of fair competition, they wasted budget money and this is why their cases will be sent to prosecutors, parliamentary Auditing Chamber and finance ministry for further investigation.
Shaboyan also said that in order to eliminate gaps in the law "On public procurements" SCPEC had developed and sent to the ministry of finance a number of legislative initiatives. The proceedings were initiated on a complaint from Azni company. ($1 – 412.75 AMD). -0-
