Ukraine Shut Down 149 Illegal Pharmacies in First Half of 2010

Ukrainian officials shut down nearly 150 pharmacies in the first half of 2010 because they were suspected to be selling counterfeit drugs.

An examination of the country’s pharmacies conducted by the State Drugs Inspectorate found that 149 establishments did not meet the Ukraine’s requirements, according to NRCU – Ukrainian Radio.

The news source reports the about 20 percent of newly opened pharmacies had their licenses immediately revoked as soon as they were inspected.

“Exactly those pharmacies are the potential and real sources of the spread of substandard and counterfeit medicines among the consumers”, Inspectorate Chairman Oleksiy Soloviev said.

The licensing procedures for new pharmacies were simplified in February of this year, causing a three-fold increase in the amount of pharmacies over the last eight months, according to the news source.

“We are not against the need to simplify the procedures for state control in the sphere of economic activity. The State Drugs Inspectorate however believes that excessive liberalization of business environment in the distribution of drugs should not pose a danger to life and health of citizens of Ukraine,” Soloviev explained.