It was proposed to limit drug advertising in Uzbekistan

The national movement “Rise” proposed to introduce restrictions on drug advertising in the mass media.

“We are all deeply saddened by the recent death of children after taking the Dok-1 Max drug.  “This tragedy has clearly shown the problems we have in the field of healthcare and pharmaceuticals in our country,” the report said.

In order to prevent such situations in the future, the national movement “Rising” calls for the following:

• Revising the practice of unsupervised use of drugs.  The fact that we can easily buy many medicines from pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription creates a risk of misuse of medicines;

• Introduction of restrictions on advertising of drugs in mass media.  In particular, to carry out the advertising of medicines only with the permission of the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights.  In the future, consider the possibility of banning direct advertising of drugs in the mass media;

• Increasing liability for violations of the legislation on advertising of medicinal products.  For example, supplementing the Code of Administrative Responsibility with a separate norm providing for the imposition of fines from 20 times to 50 times the amount of the Basic Calculation for violating the requirements for the advertising of medicinal products.  Violations with serious consequences (injury to human health, death) should be the basis for criminal liability;

• Strengthening the responsibility of drug manufacturers, importers and certification organizations.  For this purpose, to include among the subjects of Article 186-3 of the Criminal Code, persons who allow the distribution of low-quality, counterfeit and non-compliant medicines;

• Ensuring openness and transparency in the field of pharmaceuticals.  It is necessary to form an open database that provides information on the pharmaceutical industry that is relevant to the interests of the general population;

• Accelerate citizens’ use of modern diagnostic capabilities, transition to a medical insurance system based on uniform standards of treatment.

“Yuksalish” movement called on medical institutions and institutes of the pharmaceutical sector to prioritize social interests rather than commercial ones.