The Lithuanian Free Market Institute has examined draft amendments to the Law on Public Administration and the Law on Pharmacy and submitted its comments and proposals to relevant legislative bodies.
The amendments are aimed at introducing covert control purchases in pharmacies. However, given that there is no evidence that the stated problem exists and may be solved by introducing covert purchases, such regulation cannot be justified. Additionally, the measures provided are disproportionate and incompatible with the principles of business regulation. Covert purchases would infringe on the operator’s right to be inspected under a proper legal decision only and clandestine activities will create uncertainty regarding the transparency of such inspections. Finally, the draft amendments to the Law on Public Administration extend this mechanism to all areas of economic activities without having due consultations with other relevant institutions.
In the light of the aforesaid arguments LFMI calls for the rejection of the amendments.
The full position paper (in Lithuanian) is available at http://www.llri.lt/naujienos/ekonomine-politika/ekspertize-ar-siulymas-ivesti-slaptus-kontrolinius-pirkimus-vaistinese-pagristas/dovile-sujetaite
