Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2026 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

State-owned enterprises to combat corruption through a compliance officer

The National Assembly has introduced a new requirement for state-owned enterprises to implement corruption risk management systems, which will also include appointing an integrity officer. The measure is recommended by the Organisation for Economic..

published on 11/27/25 1:30 PM

Budget 2026 is being frozen, GERB are ready to rule with the old budget

GERB leader Boyko Borissov said that he did not like budget 2026 and it would be frozen. Speaking to the media in parliament, Borissov said that the Joint Governance Council of the formations in the government, the Prime Minister..

published on 11/27/25 11:18 AM
Hristijan Mickoski

North Macedonian Prime Minister mocks attacked Macedonian Bulgarian Vladimir Perev

North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski accused attacked Macedonian Bulgarian journalist Vladimir Perev of staging the attack and self-harm, BGNES has reported. On November 21, in a shop in the center of Skopje, Perev..

published on 11/27/25 8:55 AM