The proposal classifies the wholesale of pharmaceutical products among the so-called “Systems and Institutions of Vital Importance.” These include institutions, services and information systems which could deal a serious blow to national security, the economy, public health, public security or the efficient functioning of the government if they become inoperative or get destroyed.

Last summer, state hospital care, rescue management, health care reserves stocks, blood banks, the IT system of health care insurance and a secure lab where they store dangerous viruses were classified in this category. Experts told the daily, that with this step the government can avoid having the nationalization of drugs wholesaling trigger international scandal.

The only thing that would take place in form is that drugs wholesale in hospitals becomes state monopoly. And monopoly can be granted in concession, i.e. a single wholesaler may operate between the producers and the hospitals, wrote business site Portfolio.hu.