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.
A painting estimated at EUR 2 million that was stolen from an Oxford university art gallery roughly four years ago was recovered in Romania and returned to the UK judicial authorities last month, the Romanian Police announced. According to the BBC,...
Romania's national team will play in Group B at Debrecen in the 2024 European Women's Handball Championship alongside the teams from Montenegro, the Czech Republic, and Serbia, according to the draw held in Vienna. The Romanian team was part of the second pot and was the first drawn. Romania qualified undefeated for the final tournament, […]
Bucharest City Hall, through the General Directorate of Social Assistance of the City of Bucharest (DGASMB), and UNICEF Romania inaugurated on Thursday, April 18, a new integrated social services unit for vulnerable children in the capital city. The Respiro center for children with disabilities and their families, named The Magical Rainbow, will provide free services such as […]
Romania is inching closer to admission into the US Visa Waiver Program, a national strategic objective, according to the government. The country is increasingly close to meeting the technical criteria for joining. To be part of the program, countries need to have an applicant refusal rate below 3%. To reach this goal, the government says […]
Document 56, a Romanian short feature by Christopher Landry, will have its world premiere at The Beverly Hills Film Festival, where it has been chosen in the Official Selection. The event’s 24th edition is scheduled for May 1-5. Director Landry and composer Călin Țopa will be in attendance for the BHFF screening. The Romanian short […]
The Easter Fair in Bucharest might have been canceled, but the public can still visit two Palm Sunday fairs hosted by the museums dedicated to village culture, while many cities in the country host Easter fairs with ample programs. Palm Sunday Fair @ Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum in Bucharest April 26 – April 28 The […]
