BRATISLAVA, January 14, (WEBNOVINY) – The behavior of Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik who granted an exception to the pharmaceutical company Pfizer for its pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar is a perfect example of cronyism and corruption, announced SMER-SD leader Robert Fico at Friday’s news conference. In his words, the minister provided an exception for the pharmaceutical firm with which he had work in the past and which still employs his brother. This move has ensured the company a turnover of 10 million euro annually for a concrete medicament. Such acting is absolutely at odds with tasks arising from his position, argues Fico.
Uhliarik can hardly be expected to resign, continued Fico. He will not abdicate because he wants to preserve the picture of Christian Democrats as the purest and most just political party in Slovakia, claims the former prime minister. Fico does not think that KDH leader Jan Figel will do something regarding the case, either. “He is a very weak chairman and has to rely on what Mr. Lipsic will say,” he underscored. At the news conference he also attacked Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic, reminding him of his ambitions to hunt big fish. “Now, he has one directly on the table, one without the backbone, he can instantly cut the fish,” the deputy speaker of the Slovak Parliament commented on the health minister.
On the same occasion, Fico has called upon Lipsic to say something to the steps made by his party colleague. “It is arguable whether it is makes sense to appeal on Ms. Radicova to do something. She is a very weak prime minister since she is not backed by a political party that would enable her to make uncompromising political decisions,” Fico noted. The health minister himself is of no political value, according to SMER. “He does not even have the value of a pawn,” announced Fico.
In response to this criticism, Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik has countered that the granted exception helped the health insurance companies save almost 1 million euro annually. The minister maintains that the entire process complied with the law and was carried out in the public interest. This exception is not a precedent, according to him.
Minister Uhliarik however denies accusations of cronyism and corruption. The minister argues that Pfizer has been twice put at a disadvantage by his department since it eliminated its monopoly position on the pneumococcal vaccine market and reduced the price of its vaccine. Uhliarik said that he still enjoys political support of his party but admitted that he had to clarify many issues.
The Friday’s issue of the SME daily covers the case involving the 13 valent pneumococcal vaccine by Pfizer. Its rival GlaxoSmithKline has registered a cheaper vaccine in Slovakia, which would mean extra fees paid for the more expensive product of Pfizer by parents. Pfizer then asked the Health Ministry for a permit to sell a new pack containing 10 vials instead of the original one, which has ensured the sale without additional costs. The minister approved this. The ministry announced that the vaccine was free of additional charges on the day when the company applied for categorization. SME writes that other medicaments need about 100 days to undergo the categorization process and have to be approved at least by the categorization commission. Also, the paper informs that the minister had worked with Pfizer in the past.
Former member of the categorization commission Angelika Szalayova has stated that the laws have probably not been violated in this case but the rules set by the ministry definitely have been breached. Director of Transparency International Slovensko Gabriel Sipos says that the case evidently features a potential conflict of interest. One of the members of the Immunization Committee of the Public Health Office of the Slovak Republic had been linked to Pfizer in the past.
SITA