Armenia hosts roundtable on pharmaceutical industry challenges

PanARMENIAN.Net - From March 10-11, 2012, the Medicine Producers and Importers Union of Armenia (MPI Union) in cooperation with the USAID-funded Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness project (EDMC) organized the third “Meeting without Ties” forum in Arthur’s Resort in Aghveran, Armenia.

Various stakeholders of Armenia’s pharmaceutical industry, including local producers, drug safety specialists, representatives of foreign pharmaceutical companies, importing companies, as well as state officials, experts and scientists attended the meeting.

Discussion of current issues and development challenges of the pharmaceutical industry was in was in focus of the roundtable. Presentations were made on Armenia’s adoption of EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards by January 1, 2013 in accordance with the Government of Armenia decision. The new draft law on Pharmaceuticals and Bioactive Additives, latest amendments to drug advertisement permissions as well as issues related to tax and customs reforms were discussed. The USAID/EDMC project presented its activity and upcoming plans in pharmaceutical industry.

During the forum the participants had the opportunity to meet with government officials and discuss issues of concern related to competitiveness in the sector.

The five-year EDMC is designed to raise incomes and employment in Armenia by promoting growth in selected value chains with export potential, with the overall goal of assisting Armenia to develop a more competitive and diversified private sector.