BRATISLAVA, January 17, (WEBNOVINY) — Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) still trusts Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik (KDH), her spokesman Rado Bato announced following the Monday’s meeting of the two politicians. During the talks, it has been concluded that no legal violations occurred when the ministry granted an exception to Pfizer’s Pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar. However, the Prime Minister underscored that steps taken by the ministry must not raise doubts and suggested that the present situation be tackled in the revision to the law on the scope of healthcare provision. Bato further added that both politicians have expressed willingness to debate with the opposition the condition into which the Slovak health sector has sunk over the past years if an unscheduled session of parliament is convened.
Uhliarik maintains that the exception for Pfizer has not violated the law or other rules. 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, which will help health insurance companies save nearly a million euros annually. The minister drew attention to the wording of the law that gives the ministry a 180-day period to make a decision on categorization. Usually the process lasts 100 days but the time span for the department ranges from 0 to 180 days, and thus if the categorization is made within a single day then it still complies with the law, claims Uhliarik. He admitted that exceptions are rather rare but such cases occur, particularly with vaccines. Even his predecessor Richard Rasi used this possibility.
The activity 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 opposition 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 action is absolutely at odds with tasks arising from his position, said Fico.
Pfizer has sharply denied any suspicions of cronyism and legal violations.
SITA