Ministry of Health Says Price Fixing and SK-Pharmacy's Millions in Losses “Rough Spots”
Photo: Orda.kz
The Ministry of Health commented on Antikor's information about a cartel agreement in purchasing medicines by SK-Pharmacy, numerous corruption risks, and expired medication in the organization’s warehouses, Orda.kz reports.
Vice Minister of Healthcare Yerzhan Nurlybayev stated at a government press conference that SK-Pharmacy is handling its task of ensuring the supply of medicines. He says it helps “save money by increasing the volume of wholesale purchases.”
The fact that in the course of work the shortcomings and issues you are talking about are revealed. Yes, these rough spots do exist. And thanks in part to our colleagues who make these comments, we have the opportunity to improve the work of the unified distributor, said Yerzhan Nurlybayev.
Considering the identified violations, he said three regulatory legal acts would soon change SK-Pharmacy's operating regulations.
In particular, they will prevent the possibility of the emergence of so-called cartel agreements, he added.
SK-Pharmacy managing Director Gulnara Omarova noted that the cartel agreement mainly concerns logistics.
On this issue, state bodies have made their decision, legal proceedings are ongoing today and have not yet been completed, said Gulnara Omarova.
During a joint audit with the Ministry of Health, the Anti-Corruption Service identified serious corruption risks in SK-Pharmacy LLP.
These risks prevent timely and high-quality provision of medicines and medical products to Kazakhstanis.
Antikor also found signs of a cartel agreement regularly arising during medicines' procurement. This is indicated by intermediary suppliers' refusal to participate in the first stage of auctions, their participation in them in pairs, and the "victory exchanges," i.e., when companies win an auction in turn.
Several times, it was confirmed that SK-Pharmacy purchased domestic products. The manufacturers were only engaged in packaging the goods.
Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova
Latest news
- Kazakhstanis on Vacation in Egypt Witness Missile Strikes Over Israel
- Kazakhstan May Proceed Without Russia on Thermal Power Plant Projects — Deputy PM
- Kazakhstan Should Decide Second Nuclear Plant Site by Autumn, Says Deputy PM Sklyar
- Xi Jinping and Toqayev Address Regional Cooperation at Central Asia–China Summit in Astana
- Supreme Court Sends Former ANPZ Director Murat Dosmuratov’s Sentence for Re-examination
- Delayed Hematology Center in Oskemen to Be Completed with Revised Medical Focus
- Livestock Deaths Reported in Turkistan Region Amid Drought
- Kazakhstan to Help China Restore Saiga Population
- Living in Pakistani Limbo: Ethnic Kazakhs from Afghanistan Seek Resettlement
- Kyiv Hit by Large-Scale Drone and Missile Attack
- Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry Dismisses Petition to Abolish Social Health Insurance
- Atyrau: Hydrogen Sulfide Levels Soar 11 Times Above Norm Due to Fire
- Kazakhstan and China Sign Memorandum on Seismic Safety Cooperation
- Leaders Gather in Astana for China–Central Asia Summit
- Kazakhstan Probes Massive Data Leak Involving 16 Million Citizens
- U.S. President Orders Preparations for Urgent Meeting with Iranian Officials
- Kulibayev: Almex Holding Will Not Pay Dividends for 2024
- Altynalmas Expands Operations with Acquisition of Two Mining Companies
- Expert Discusses Digital Cooperation Between Kazakhstan and China Ahead of Regional Summit
- Taraz: Court Hands Down Sentence in Assault Case Involving Minors
