Bulgaria's Health Insurance Fund Convicted of Abuse of Dominant Position

Politics » DOMESTIC | March 29, 2012, Thursday // 17:45
Bulgaria: Bulgaria's Health Insurance Fund Convicted of Abuse of Dominant Position Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has been found guilty of abuse of dominant position in connection with the retail pricing policies of pharmacies. Photo by BGNES

The Supreme Administrative Court (VAS) has confirmed the abuse of dominant position by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), according to a Thursday statement of the Commission on Protection of Competition (KZK).

In July 2010, KZK found that the NHIF had breached competition regulations by imposing on pharmacies prices for the sale of medicines contained in the NHIF Reimbursement List.

NHIF will be fined with BGN 30 000 for the violation.

The competition watchdog instituted proceedings against the NHIF on a tip-off by the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union.

The inspection of the KZK revealed that for the period of February 1, 2008 through June 1, 2009, the NHIF unilaterally imposed a significantly lower ceiling of mark-ups of medicines partially reimbursed by the NHIF that pharmacies use to set prices.

The NHIF's move was in breach of the cap on retail pharmacy mark-ups set out in an ordinance.

In its ruling the VAS noted that the NHIF had abused its monopoly position to exert pressure on pharmacies in connection with their retail pricing policies.

The decision of the Sofia-based Supreme Administrative Court is final and cannot be appealed.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Domestic » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), pharmacies, pharmaceuticals, reimburse, retail prices, abuse of dominant position, Commission on Protection of Competition, KZK, Supreme Administrative Court, VAS

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria