Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Anton Valev: Medicines disappearing from pharmacies’ shelves is practice not contrary to European rules

Photo: BGNES

The periodic disappearance of certain medicines from the shelves of Bulgarian pharmacies is completely legal and regulated according to European rules and is a consequence of the so-called "parallel export," President of the National Pharmacy Chamber Anton Valev told the BNR. According to him, countries affected need to demand changes to this part of the European Union treaty.

"A company sells a specific drug for 10 euros in Germany, for example. The same medicine on the Bulgarian market costs 5 euros, so that Bulgarians could afford it. This way the drug becomes very profitable for some exporters - whether it would be a Bulgarian company or a German company or a cooperation between a Bulgarian and a German company. They could buy all the quantities from the Bulgarian market and sell them on the German market at a price of 8 euros, for example, thus making huge profits," Valev explained the mechanism of the phenomenon.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Friday has it all: clouds, fog, rain and wind

Over the next 24 hours, cloudy and foggy conditions are expected across much of the western Danube and Upper Thracian plains. Rain is likely in western Bulgaria and the Rila-Rhodope region, especially in the south-west. During the day, there may be..

published on 11/20/25 7:05 PM

Bulgaria strongly condemns the Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev took part in the regular Foreign Affairs Council, held in Brussels. The ministers discussed the EU’s commitments to Ukraine’s security and the continuation of comprehensive support for the country...

published on 11/20/25 5:47 PM

The first quaternary treatment plant was opened in Bulgaria

The first quaternary wastewater treatment plant in Bulgaria was opened today in the village of Benkovski, Maritsa Municipality. “Today we are launching a pilot project that marks the beginning of a new stage in water management in Bulgaria. A..

published on 11/20/25 5:45 PM