President Admits Inadmissibly High Prices on Medicines in Georgia

President Mikheil Saakashvili admitted that prices are inadmissibly high on medicines in Georgia.

President Mikheil Saakashvili said in the TV-Project “President’s Q&A” that prices on medicines are most expensive in the regions of Georgia and this problem shall be eradicated. He added that medicines were too expensive in the past but last year the government managed to hold running prices.

The president said monopolists controlled the situation in Georgia before but now, separate pharmacy network was set up and pharmacies are not owned only by one group of people.

Mikheil Saakashvili discussed installment of video-cameras in the pharmacies that caused discontent of certain people who complained it could influence the prices of the medicines. However, the president promised it cannot cause increase of prices on medicines.

In addition, Mikheil Saakashvili said the insurance is still problematic question in Georgia because it does not meet the requirements. More precisely, it does not cover chronic diseases, preliminary medical examination, etc.

According to the president, Insurance Companies should get stronger, their service shall become cheaper and the list of funded diseases shall be increased.

The president hopes all these goals will be achieved within 2-3 years. However, Saakashvili admitted that profit of the insurance companies is inadmissibly high that should be regulated. He did not discuss the mechanisms of regulation.

Interpresnews