Competition Council Says Doctors And Pharmacists Recommend More Expensive Drugs
Romania’s competition Council shows that physicians and pharmacists recommend more expensive drugs, being influenced by drugmakers which lure them with various sponsorships and participations in events.
Moreover, pharmacists recommend the most expensive drugs on pharmacy shelves.
The official report proving this phenomenon shows that little over a half of patients (57%) buy drugs recommended by doctors, although their price is higher by at least 35% than their generic equivalents.
A company allocats, on average, approximately 9% of its turnover for promotion activities, while a producer of generic drugs allocates approximately 5%. In 2014, costs with promotion and advertising, registered by drugmakers in Romania, reached nearly RON362 million. (Puterea)
International Book Salon Bookfest Officially Opens On June 1
The eleventh edition of the International Book Fair Bookfest, held in Romania’s capital city of Bucharest, officially opened on June 1 and will last until June 5.
“As far as we, the Culture Ministry, are concerned, books are still a very special preoccupation, all the more so as we notice there is currently a drop in interest in reading and an overall decrease in the interest in what reading may bring in terms of spiritual enrichment and enlightenment,” said Culture minister Corina Suteu.
Suteu also said the idea of having a Book Center might encourage and sustain the efforts made by libraries and publishing houses so that young people rediscover the pleasure of reading.
The event is organized by the Polirom Publishing House and the Israeli Embassy in Romania. Israel’s Ambassador to Romania Tamar Samash voiced satisfaction over Israel’s presence in the Bookfest as a guest of honour. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Roads Authority Readies New EU-Funded Projects
Romania’s national roads authority CNADNR, as beneficiary, is readying the financing applications for new projects.
CNADNR will draft and file, as soon as possible, the financing applications for projects that are a priority for the development of the transportation system, which are established through Romania’s General Transport Master Plan, in order to ensure financing for the second stage of the projects.
On May 30, 2016, The EU Funds Ministry launched the financing calls for projects targeting the development of road, rail and underground infrastructure, with a total budget of EUR5.8 billion (for all means of transportation). (Evenimentul Zilei)
Finance Ministry Boosts First Home Program Budget By RON500M
The guarantee ceiling for this year’s government-guaranteed mortgage lending First Home program was supplemented by RON500 million.
The Finance Ministry informed both the national guarantee fund for small and medium sized businesses (FNGCIMM) and the banks participating in the First Home program about the allocation of guarantee ceilings.
The financing banks which received guarantee ceilings are Alpha Bank, Creditcoop, Banca Romanească, Banca Transilvania, Bancpost, Leumi, BCR, BRD, CEC, Credit Agricole, Garanti, ING Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, Marfin, OTP Bank, Piraeus Bank, Raiffeisen Bank and UniCredit Bank.
From the start of the program, in 2009, until May 2016, over 178,000 guarantees have been granted, representing a total volume of guarantees of nearly RON15 billion, which corresponds to financings worth RON29.8 billion. (Puterea)
President Iohannis Might Appoint A New PM After Parliamentary Elections In Fall
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis might appoint replace current Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos with a new technocrat prime minister after the parliamentary elections due in autumn.
Romania might have a new technocrat prime minister starting this fall, the President’s political adviser Laurentiu Stefan told an interview for Reuters.
Stefan said the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL) will each get 32%-35% at the parliamentary elections, therefore, they will not be able to rule by themselves. (Evenimentul Zilei)