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Sopharma owner Ognyan Donev (pictured) monopolised the Bulgarian pharmaceutical market while he was a member of the supervising medicines authority, which is unethical (and illegal) even in AU (African Union) member states, New Europe wrote. Photo by SPA
The European Commission is about to launch an investigation into Bulgaria's pharmaceutical company Sopharma over suspicions of monopoly as unethical as in an African country, New Europe reported.
"Sopharma, controlled by Ognyan Donev, who until a year ago was a member of the supervisory board of the State Authority National Health Insurance Fund, has managed to supply more than 70% of the medicines required by (state) hospitals and more than 50% of prescribed medicines - an extremely profitable business, for which Donev deserves congratulations, but since Bulgaria is not a member of the AU (African Union) but of the EU, this situation must stop, as it is in flagrant violation of EU law," the New Europe wrote.
It points out that the other key person in the scheme is the current deputy health minister of Bulgaria, Gergana Pavlova, a former high-ranking employee of Sopharma.
She serves now as political supervisor in the Boyko Borisov cabinet in charge of medicines and hospital supplies and has managed to pass a law which provides great benefit to the company for which she was previously working.
According to the publication the European Commission is already in Bulgaria, investigating the case 'sur place'.
"We are confident that it will restore the functions of the free market in that country. We are often critical of Commission services for various reasons, often correctly, sometimes wrongly, but we have to admit that EU fonctionaires are stubborn enough not to give in to political pressure from member states or cabinets," the media commented.
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