Investigation Launched by Prosecutor's Office into Unregistered Oncological Drug Import
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
The former Minister of Health, Zurab Azarashvili, has revealed that thousands of unregistered oncological medicines of dubious origin were being imported.
Azarashvili stated that allegedly at least 60 oncologists are involved in this scheme. Based on the medical certificates they provided, requests for funding of millions of GEL were submitted to both the ministry and municipalities. Meanwhile, oncology patients were prescribed and used drugs of unknown origin.
The former health minister stated that the appropriate discussion of this issue has already taken place at the professional council, and the case materials have been forwarded to law enforcement structures.
"Due to these and other valid reasons, canceling the limit set for oncology per patient is not possible, and early oncology diagnosis is only being initiated as a pilot program in state clinics, Taking into account the cost-saving effect, the total budget for oncology in 2024 is up to 350 million GEL, compared to just 20 million GEL in 2012," Azarashvili stated.
After Azarashvili published this statement, the prosecutor's office confirmed that they have launched an investigation into the matter.
The prosecutor's office has stated that the investigation of the criminal case involving the fraudulent appropriation of a significant amount of state funds is being conducted in accordance with Article 180, Part 3, subsection 'b' of the Criminal Code.
"The investigation was initiated upon an appeal from the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Protection regarding internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the occupied territories of Georgia. The appeal stated that during 2023, one private company imported pharmaceutical products from abroad, particularly oncology drugs, without authorization to enter the Georgian market. Subsequently, these products were administered to patients, financed both by their personal funds and within the framework of state funding programs," the statement reads.
