FAS opened a case against a cartel at open electronic auctions for supplying medicinal drugs

FAS opened proceedings against “Jodas Expoim” Ltd., “Pharma Coppola” Pharmaceutical Company and “Saticom” upon elements of Clause 2 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

FAS suspects that the companies concluded an anticompetitive agreement to maintain prices at open electronic auctions for supplying pharmaceutical products of the antibiotic group.

“Such sector of the economy as providing medical drugs for the population is of strategic importance. Cartels in this area of the economy are considered some of the most dangerous violations harming the state interests”, said Deputy Head of FAS Alexander Kinev.

“Suppressing violations of the antimonopoly law in the field of providing medications to the population is always one of the priorities for FAS. It is especially important when concerns such significant categories as national security”, emphasized the Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Andrey Tenishev.

The anticompetitive agreement was implemented in 12 regions of the Russian Federation covering more than 200 auctions for supplying medicines for the total amount exceeding 200 million RUB.

The collusion was exposed as a result of an integrated, large-scale analysis by the Anti-Cartel Department of economic conduct of market participants delivering medicinal drugs for the needs of medical institutions within the health care system of the Russian Federation at open electronic auctions. The findings are also confirmed in the course of unscheduled on-site inspections conducted by FAS Department of Unscheduled On-Site Inspections.