Head of AVIS pharmacy arrested for the artificially inflated prices of medicines

Department on Combating Corruption under the General Prosecutor’s Office together with the Center for Analytical Examination of the Ministry of Health and the State Service for Antimonopoly Policy and Consumer Protection under the Ministry of Economy held operational investigative measures on the basis of the appeal, received from a citizen, reporting the fact that the pharmacy “AVİS” in Baku artificially inflated drug prices, APA reports.

As a result, it was found that the “AVİS” pharmacy, operating under “Maymed” LLC priced a drug called “Pegintron 80” at 1220 Azerbaijani manat, whose price is 326 manat per package. At the same time, the sale of medicines without customs declaration and illegally import into the country was revealed.

As a result of a search in the company-owned warehouse, materials on conducting “black accounting” by the company, medicines that are prohibited, as well as 104 kinds of medicines which do not have official permission to import have been found and taken.

As a result of a search conducted in cooperation with the Center for Analytical Examination of the Ministry of Health a lot of drugs that have not passed state registration were found.

As a result of a justifiable suspicion of abuse of power, repeatedly inflating drug prices and harming the legitimate interests of citizens, a criminal case under articles 308.1 (abuse of power) and 200.1 (consumer fraud) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan was opened against director of “Maymed” LLC Elmir Maharov. He involved in the investigation as a suspect under articles 308.2 (abuse of power entailed to heavy consequences) and 200.2.3 (consumer fraud with causing damage in the large amount) and a preventive measure has been taken in the form of arrest.

Investigative activities aimed at identifying and bringing to justice all the perpetrators on this issue are underway.

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