Moldovan cabinet analyzes evolution of prices for fuels, medicines, bread products

Chisinau, 20 January /MOLDPRES/ - The working group in charge of analyzing and monitoring the prices held a meeting at the government today, in order to discuss the last tendencies in the evolution of the prices for socially important products: medicines, good products, cereals and oil products, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported. 

Attending the the meeting, chaired by acting prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi, were the members of the working group; the discussions were focused on aspects dealing with: prices’ formation mechanism, factors which trigger the prices’ deviations; observance of the normative framework which regulates the mechanism of formation of prices for socially important products; measures which are necessary to be undertaken.   

A representative of the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) informed about the factors which had influenced the increases in the prices for oil products. He pointed out the fact that the increases were in line with the realities of the international market and were conditioned by the increase in the import price and growth of the excise duties as of 1 January 2021.  

Acting PM Aureliu Ciocoi instructed the setting up of a group of experts in the field, to analyze the normative framework which establishes the way the prices are regulated and submit, if needed, proposals on changing the legislation for applying a more efficient way.

„We should analyze the situation in the field and if necessary, prepare amendments to the legislation, so that both the state and the consumer are not hit. I believe that the increase in the expenses of economic agents in the conditions of a pandemic crisis is a result of a deficient management,’’ Aureliu Ciocoi said.  

The head of the Competition Council, Marcel Raducan, said that, at present, the institution was carrying out investigations which regard some oil operators. ‘’Even if we have no enough legal leverages, we must analyze the option of an eventual cartel agreements between oil companies, which have identically increased the fuels’ prices,’’ Raducan said.    

The state secretary of the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry, Tatiana Zatic, unveiled information on the evolution of prices for medicines used for the treatment of COVID-19. She noted that the treatment of the patients with the new-type coronavirus was free of charge in hospitals for all patients, no matter whether they have health insurance policy or not. Also, a good deal of the medicines prescribed to the patients treated at home is compensated from the Health Insurances Accounts.  

In conditions when the legislation does not see the regulation of prices for food supplements, which are used in the treatment of the COVID-19 infection, the prices for this type of products recorded a growth.  

„The costs for the treatment of COVID-19 are pretty high. It is important that the health ministry implements a communication mechanism, so that the citizens are informed that the medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 are compensated. Also, a more comprehensive analysis is needed on behalf of MSMPS as to the necessity to cap the prices for food supplements. We must prepare the ground for improving the normative framework,’’ Ciocoi said.  

In the conditions of the pandemic crisis and the poor harvest from the last year, the participants in the meeting analyzed the tendency of the increase in prices for bread products and cereals. According to the National Statistics Bureau, in 2020, as compared to 2019, the harvest decreased and, respectively, the prices registered an insignificant growth. The state secretary at the Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ministry, Mihai Machidon, gave assurances that all actions were undertaken to maintain the needed prices and stocks.     

In the context, the competent bodies monthly monitor the evolution of prices and the quantities of cereals exported. ‘’It is necessary that we weekly monitor the quantities of export, so that we further ensure that Moldova’s food security,’’  Aureliu Ciocoi added.   

photo: Guvern