In Kazakhstan, cases have been identified of selling medicines intended for free provision to patients. Drugs purchased under the guaranteed volume of free medical care (GVFMC) have, in some instances, entered the retail pharmacy network.
WHAT THE ANALYSIS REVEALED
According to the press service of the Ministry of Healthcare, an analysis of the circulation of medicinal products using the traceability system for the period from 1 July 2024 showed that 4,114 medications intended for provision under the GVFMC were sold in pharmacy organisations.
These are medicines that should be dispensed to patients free of charge through medical institutions, but in a number of cases they were made available for retail sale.
Among the items identified were sodium chloride and glucose solutions for infusion, certain antibiotics, and medications for the treatment of chronic diseases.
WHAT VIOLATIONS WERE RECORDED
According to the analytical platform "Centre for Electronic Document Management of Labelled Goods" and "Centre for Digital Economy Development" LLP, systemic violations in the use of traceability codes were recorded:
- 35,500 cases of codes being re-withdrawn from circulation;
- 480,700 cases of the same code being used by different participants;
- 1,140 facilities re-withdrew 15,600 codes from circulation.
WHAT MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN
As a response, unscheduled inspections were carried out at 74 facilities. As a result:
- 31 facilities were held administratively liable;
- the total amount of fines was 12.3 million tenge;
- 43 organisations were issued orders to rectify violations.
WHERE HAVE THE MATERIALS BEEN SENT
Materials regarding the identified cases have been forwarded to the Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) and the Anti-Corruption Service of the National Security Committee (ACS of the NSC).
Additional inspections are being carried out, and work in this area continues.