The Competition Council sanctioned five pharmaceutical companies supplying immunoglobulins and other human plasma-derived drugs, as well as the representative association of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) (Belgium) with fines worth a total of 353.4 million lei (approximately 71 million euros).According to a press release sent on last Tuesday, the sanctioned companies are: Baxalta Gmbh, Switzerland - 109 million lei; CSL Behring Gmbh, Germany - 76.8 million lei; Biotest AG, Germany - 25.5 million lei; Kedrion Spa, Italy -16.1 million lei; Octapharma AG, Switzerland - 125.1 million lei; PPTA, Belgium: 375,521 lei.Following the investigations, launched in 2018, the competition authority found that, in the period 2015-2018, the five companies adopted a coordinated strategy, which aimed at limiting and even interrupting the supply to the Romanian market with immunoglobulins, in order to exert pressure on the authorities to suspend the clawback tax for medicines derived from human blood or human plasma. This way, the companies aimed to create a commercial advantage, namely the improvement of profit margins.The PPTA facilitated these anti-competitive practices and contributed through its own actions to the achievement of the common goal, thereby going beyond the scope of specific activities at the level of an association in order to influence the legislative process.Lack of access to immunoglobulins, as essential medicines for the treatment of multiple serious illnesses, has endangered the lives of patients and led authorities to take crisis measures to provide patients with the necessary medicines, by accessing the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which indicates, by default, the magnitude of the gravity of the situation generated on the national market.The decision of the Competition Authority, which will be published in a non-confidential manner on the institution's Website, can be appealed to the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
Crin Antonescu, the former leader of the Liberal Party (PNL) and interim president during Traian Băsescu's suspension in 2012, could become the joint candidate of the Social Democrats (PSD) and Liberals (PNL) in the presidential elections to be held in the spring. The only politician who has firmly announced his candidacy so far is the […]
The Social Democrats (PSD), Liberals (PNL), and Hungarian party UDMR were, at the end of December 22, close to agreeing over the share of the ministries in a joint cabinet to be appointed before the end of the year, such as to enact the quasi-austerity package of fiscal corrective measures already inked by the Ministry […]
Romania's gas consumption will increase by 10 billion cubic meters in the next 3-4 years, which practically means a doubling of current consumption, according to the National Gas System Development Plan 2024 - 2033 drafted by the operator of the country's gas transport system, Transgaz. The additional source of gas would come from the Black […]
The government of Romania has approved an emergency ordinance (OUG) initiated by the Ministry of Energy with legislative amendments that allow ministries to increase their stakes in companies in which they are majority or minority shareholders in order to prevent their "hostile takeover" or "decapitalization," according to Profit.ro and
A draft ordinance inked by the Finance Ministry and consulted by Economedia.ro establishes the framework for fiscal measures to be applied in 2025, envisaging that state pensions, special pensions, and salaries...
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has submitted a notification of unconstitutionality to the Constitutional Court regarding a controversial law approving Government Emergency Ordinance OUG 107/2024, which outlines fiscal-budgetary measures for addressing budgetary receivables and Romania's general consolidated budget deficit for 2024. The Presidential Administration announced the submission on Friday, December 20. The fiscal amnesty brought RON […]
