In the first six months of this year, the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate of Kosovo has punished nine pharmacies for violating the law, as illegal medicinal products of Serbian origin were found in them. In 2023, this inspectorate recorded 69 such cases. In addition, Kosovo Customs has confiscated medicines of Serbian origin worth over 116 thousand euros from January to June 2024.
That illegal drugs of Serbian origin are present in the Kosovo pharmaceutical market is also confirmed by the Chamber of Pharmacists of Kosovo (OFK).
The Pharmaceutical Inspectorate of Kosovo has announced to KosovaPress that in the first six months of 2024, a total of 76 fines have been imposed. In this period, illegal products were found in 14 pharmacies, of which 9 were of Serbian origin. In addition, 6 pharmacies were identified that were engaged in illegal activities with pharmaceutical products, where 4 of them are located in the north of the Republic of Kosovo.
"During 2023, the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate imposed a total of 249 fines. These fines are distributed for various violations, including: unprofessional staff, illegal drugs, illegal entities, prescription administration, banner administration, SPO, etc. During the year 2023, 87 entities that trade illegal products and 4 entities that have exercised illegal activities have been identified. In the database of the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, 69 entities were identified that had products originating from Serbia. Whereas, in the first six months of 2024, a total of 76 fines were imposed. In this period, 14 subjects were found with illegal products, of which 9 subjects had medicinal products of Serbian origin. Likewise, 6 subjects were found practicing illegal activity with pharmaceutical products, of which 4 are in the north of the Republic of Kosovo", says the Inspectorate's response.
Also, based on the data of the Kosovo Customs of 2023, 20 cases of non-declaration of drugs of Serbian origin were discovered in the border zone and border crossing points.
Customs has said that in the first six months of 2024, it has identified seven similar cases.
Kosovo Customs has announced that the value of drugs of Serbian origin confiscated from January to June of this year is over 116 thousand euros, while throughout the year 2023, this value was approximately 91 thousand euros.
"During 2023, we had 20 detected cases of smuggled drugs which were detected as: along the border belt, then there were cases trying to enter through the Border Crossing Point without declaring them... In the first six months of in 2024, there were 7 cases of discovered drugs in the form and manner described above for the year 2023. The smuggled drugs are of all types without exception", says the response of the Kosovo Customs.
also
More than 350 types of drugs smuggled in pharmacies of Pristina were caught
Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of the Chamber of Pharmacists of Kosovo, Astrit Haxhijaha, says that there is a significant number of illegal drugs in the pharmaceutical market of Kosovo. He talked about the influencing factors.
"There is a significant number of illegal drugs on the pharmaceutical market. However, all of this is the result of several factors. The first factor is that the law on the price of drugs has not yet come into force, because at the moment it is introduced this law, then the market will automatically stabilize... Then there is also the unprecedented administrative instruction, which was made very quickly by the Ministry of Health, has damaged the market share, because it limits many distributors or wholesalers to operate because they have a limited number of drugs to be brought in. So, as soon as possible, this administrative instruction should be eliminated and continue as it was before", emphasizes Haxhijaha./KSP
