Workshop with journalists, organized by BGMVO
On June 10th, the Bulgarian Medicines Verification Organisation (BgMVO) organized a working seminar with journalists on the topic: “From manufacturer to pharmacy – the role of the Verification System in protecting patients and society. Medicine verification in the EU and Bulgaria – a barrier against counterfeiting and financial fraud”. The event took place at the Grand Hotel Sofia and brought together representatives of national, regional, and digital media. During the meeting, participants learned about the development of the medicines verification process and the daily contribution of the Verification System to the safety of the legal medicines supply chain. Since its implementation in 2019 in Bulgaria and EU countries, the System has provided protection against falsified medicines and their misuse.
During the discussion panel, the Executive Director and members of the BgMVO Management Board answered questions and presented specific benefits of the Verification System. It acts as a barrier against the entry of falsified medicines and prevents financial abuse of public funds. The interconnections between various information systems in healthcare were demonstrated, as well as examples of violations prevented by using the Verification System.
Iliana Paunova, Executive Director of BgMVO, reiterated the legislative framework for the implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive in Bulgaria. She emphasized that the definition of a falsified medicinal product includes not only discrepancies in the active substance, but also disruptions in the integrity of the packaging and distribution channels.
MPharm Dimitar Marinov, Chairman of the BPU and the BgMVO Board, highlighted the integration between the NHIF, the National Health Information System, and the Medicines Verification System, as well as the high activity of nearly 3,000 pharmacies and 200 hospital pharmacies in the country in using these systems. He gave examples of violations in pharmacies, specifying that despite the large number of transactions (over 3 million per week), these were isolated cases.
Deyan Denev, Director of ARPharM and member of the BgMVO Board, emphasized that verification guarantees the authenticity of medicines and compliance with the legal drug supply chain. The interoperability between systems in Bulgaria prevents the same package from being dispensed and reported twice to the health insurance fund.
Olia Vasileva, Executive Director of BAPWR and member of the BgMVO Board, gave an example of a prevented malpractice involving an expensive cancer drug, which confirms the effectiveness of the Verification System.
Dr. Evgeni Tasovski, Executive Director of BGPharmA and member of the BgMVO Board, emphasized the possibility of supplying medicines intended for other EU countries in the event of a shortage in Bulgaria. After approval by the BDA, they are delivered to Bulgaria, and the Verification System allows for quick checking of packaging and rapid overcoming of temporary drug shortages.
Boryana Marinkova, Executive Director of BAMPTD and member of the BgMVO Board, clarified the role of parallel trade distributors, who, due to their specific legal obligations, are another part of the chain in ensuring the authenticity and origin of medicines. She emphasized that prevention is the most important safeguard against falsification and called for the criminalization of medicines fraud.
The meeting concluded with a lively discussion and multiple questions from journalists, who demonstrated their interest in the Verification System as a successful model to the benefit of Bulgarian patients.