Suspicions Of Collusion As Pharmaceutical Prices Soar

The cost of pharmaceuticals is causing widespread controversy in Ukraine after retail prices surged by up to 70% during mid-October 2008. The medicines concerned are mostly imported products, which hold a market share of over 75%. Importers have attributed the rises to strengthening of the US dollar; however, the state medicines agency has not excluded the possibility of conspiracy between traders. Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko said the operation was a planned campaign aimed at destabilising the tense political situation in Ukraine. Timoshenko promised to name the parties and politicians responsible if the situation was not resolved. The drug pricing committee,

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