Argentina: Regulator slaps pharmacies with $6.4 million fine

The Ministry of Commerce, along with the National Production Ministry, have fined the Association of Pharmacists of Tucumán, the Association of Pharmacies of Tucumán and the Circle of Pharmacies of the South for price-fixing, regulating the investment in advertising and for determining the opening times of the pharmacies of the province.

The CNDC determined that this agreement consisted in prohibiting or limiting discounts to consumers; prohibited advertising related to prices, discounts or offers of medicines and perfume items. The agreement directly affected consumers by preventing them from receiving better prices and quality of service, since they prevented the offering of higher discounts.

In 60 days the entities must modify or eliminate the articles of the regulation of pharmaceutical benefits and the code of ethics that contemplate difficulties or barriers to competition between pharmacies.

Full Content: InfoBae

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