NEW DRUG LIST DELAYED
The list of most commonly used drugs in Bulgaria that will be prescribed to patients completely or partially free of charge by the National Health Insurance Fund, the health ministry and hospitals has to be approved by January 30 2009, Bulgarian-language Denvnik reported on August 5.  The list was scheduled to take effect on April 13 2008 but the Government only selected the group to complete the list ten days ago. Drug manufacturers suspect a further extension may have to be granted. The executive director of the association of pharmaceutical manufacturers Rossen Kazakov said that about 60 new generic and cheaper drugs are unlikely to make the list, undermining patient care.

INNOVATIVE LOCAL ECONOMY
It would take Bulgaria 31 years to have its economy driven by innovation, Andrea Casini, CEO and deputy chairman of the managing board of UniCredit Bulbank said on August 4 as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA. According to Casini, in 2039 Bulgaria’s businesses will start competing with products not only based on price but on quality and originality. Casini presented the UniCredit Bulbank’s analysis on production sectors in the European markets and Bulgaria’s position as a EU member. Casini said that in 2028 the intermediate goods production such as rubber and plastic goods or refined petrochemical products, would continue to dominate the product structure of the Bulgarian economy. At the same time, the production of high and medium-tech goods, such as sets for the automotive industry, electrical, optical and transport equipment, would have an increasing share.

MEAT MARKETS
Analysis of the production and sales development of meat and meat products in Bulgaria for the first quarter of 2008, presented by SFB Capital Market on August 5, showed that production increase continued over this period but at a slower rate. The trend of significant growth of import continued, and compared to the same period of 2007, the growth is 35.2 per cent. Exports are 29.6 per cent lower, but the average price is 40 per cent higher. Foreign trade in meat and meat products continues to increase as well. Sales on the domestic market of the surveyed companies are 5.3 per cent up from the first quarter of 2007, Capital Market’s report further stated.