Pharmacist

The “war” between pharmacists and wholesalers over the ongoing medication shortages in the Greek market seems unending. The PFS has shared a letter from a private wholesaler to cooperative wholesalers, accompanied by a list of products intended for export.

Video and photo documents of the action of organizations consisting of doctors and pharmacists and cheating the EOPYY through virtual prescriptions were secured and presented by protothema.gr.

The images show members of the organizations visiting the pharmacies involved with some of them entering them holding lists (obviously of medicines) and leaving carrying paper boxes.

Pharmacists in Bulgaria are preparing to protest against a recently passed bill that permits the sale of medicines through vending machines. The bill, which has been approved in its first reading in parliament, aims to provide 24/7 access to over-the-counter medications.

The Athens Public Prosecutor’s Office has pressed serious criminal charges, including eight felonies and two misdemeanors, against those arrested for the fraud scheme against the Greek National Organization for Healthcare Services (EOPYY).

The dialogues captured during the investigation by the Economic Police, which halted the group’s activities, shed light on the criminal practices of organizations made up of doctors and pharmacists who defrauded EOPYY through fictitious prescriptions.

Two criminal organizations involved in serious fraud against EOPYY were dismantled through fraudulent prescription of pharmaceutical products. The total damage to the organization exceeds €3,500,000.

Notably, among the falsely prescribed medications were narcotics and other psychotropic substances, some of which are in shortage both in Greece and internationally.

Pharmacists are protesting for the second consecutive day. The dissatisfaction stems from a draft regulation proposed by the Ministry of Health, which aims to alter the dispensing of medicines under the Health Insurance Fund. This morning, pharmacy managers are anticipated to submit their one-month notices to terminate their contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Pharmacies across Bulgaria are facing temporary closures on July 3 due to planned protests by pharmacists against proposed changes to their payment structure by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Authorities have arrested 18 suspects, including three doctors and pharmacists in Istanbul, responsible for a staggering 5 million Turkish Liras ($160,700) worth of public loss to the Social Security Institution (SGK) wtih the issuance of counterfeit prescriptions.

An investigation has been launched after a Russian family promoted a pharmacy on their social media account, claiming that their medications were cheaper and making negative statements about other pharmacies in the southern province of Antalya's Kemer district.