No control over medicine trade

Law on medicine and medical supplies indicates “Medicine national policy is an inseparable part of National Security ensuring united policy of Mongolia”. But who monitor on quality, standard and usage of medicine that have been sold in innumerable drugstores. There is no monitoring research from managing officials to the Minister for Health. Minister S.Lambaa said that Professional Monitoring Agency controls medicine trade, quality and security. But drugstores operate under the Ministry.

There is question that how the Professional Monitoring Agency works, which the Ministry rely on. Many unqualified, with toxic ingredients, expired medicines and not included in medicine list are available in the market. There have been a lot of registered crimes of fake medicines and medical supplies smuggling. For example, two citizens who have private business attempted to smuggle medicine and injection in a fruit box. If Professional Monitoring Agency, Customs Authority and the Ministry have not monitored, such wrong incidents would increase.

According to WHO data, counterfeit medicine accounts for 10% of world medicine market. Profit can be billions of USD. There is estimation that in 25% of developing countries, including Russia, 35-40% of medicine market occupies non standard medicine. Counterfeit medicine business has bloomed in Mongolia since 1994. Professional Monitoring Agency inspects quality and security of medicine and medical supplies but does not monitor counterfeit medicine that is sold in drugstores and markets. Strangely, the officials said if citizens complain about being poisoned after usage of counterfeit drugs, they will check. Besides, none of the Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar Health Authority and the Government Implementing Agency-Health Board has done any survey on counterfeit medicine and medical supplies.

There are 1891 types of officially registered medicines sold in Mongolia. Only a survey shows that 170 of them are used commonly. Moreover 190 organizations, 34 factories and 1200 drugstores operate in Mongolia. There is doubt that these organizations have ensured hygiene, work quality and standards because drugstores buy medicines from private individuals. Therefore, not Professional Monitoring Agency only but other organizations should take medicine monitoring activity relating to national security.