At the four-day session of RA National Assembly, held on March 20-23, the draft
law on introducing amendments to RA Law “On Advertising” was presented. The
initiator of the amendments is RA Health Ministry. The amendments refer to advertising
in media and outside advertising of medication, medical equipment and treatment
methods.
In particular, it is proposed that the advertising of medication in broadcast
and print media be accompanied by obligatory mentioning of the number and date
of issuing of the certificate of state registration in the Republic of Armenia,
as well as the number and date of the authorization issued by the Health Ministry.
The amendments foresee a ban on advertising of medication controlled, issued
by prescription and not registered in Armenia. Besides, it is proposed to prohibit
outside advertising of the medication.
In compliance with the draft law, the number and date of issuing authorization
from the Ministry of Health should be specified during advertising in media
and on the street stands of medical equipment and treatment methods. Advertisement
of the organizations or individual entrepreneurs, providing medical services,
carrying out production and sale of medication, implementing educational projects,
should include the number and date of issuing the license for relevant activity.
At the same time, it is not really clear why the draft law, alongside the restrictions
mentioned above and quite reasonable, also proposes introducing the procedure
of granting authorization for advertising of medication, medical equipment and
treatment methods, which is to be stipulated by RA Government.
The authors of the draft law condition the mentioned amendments in Law “On
Advertising” by the necessity of protecting the consumers’ rights and ensuring
proper quality of medical service. However, as it is typical for the majority
of legislative initiatives in media field, here as well excessive bureaucratic
limitations are foreseen.
The new draft law “On Copyright and Related Rights” was also introduced at
the Parliament four-day session.
On March 22, amendments to the Law “On Advertising” and the draft law “On Copyright
and Related Rights” were adopted in the first reading.
