The Medication and Medical Equipment Quality Control Laboratory of the Medication Agency has new headquarters. The building was erected at a cost of 40 million lei, but the lab still needs to be furnished with equipment. Prime Minister Vlad Filat, who attended the new headquarters’ inauguration on Wednesday, requested that the lab be provided with all the equipment necessary within 6 months, as well as to have an efficient informational system set up. “I want to see not only furniture and repaired offices. I want to see high performance equipment, which could give results and complex analyses unbiased by the human factor”, said Vlad Filat. The Ministry of Healthcare is to find the investments needed, either from its development fund, or from partnerships with donors. Additionally, the Prime Minister requested stricter monitoring of the way in which the Ministry of Healthcare’s orders are respected. Vlad Filat mentioned that currently most of the doctors write prescriptions using the commercial names of the medications, whereas the orders require the use of international names. The Premier was also unhappy with the fact that the lab’s employees are wearing white robes that have a visible commercial tag. “Doctors prescribe commercial brands, and often indicate the pharmacy the patient should go to. We should make sure that every doctor uses generics in prescriptions. Consequently the pharmacist has the obligation to inform the buyer about the alternatives available. The patient must have a choice”, Vlad Filat pointed out. The Premier also talked about medication and medical equipment purchases. “Starting with January 1, 2013, they will be centralized. I don’t understand why currently part of the procurements are done by the National Health Insurance Company, which has a whole other role. Procurements are to be under strict monitoring and maximum transparency”, mentioned Vlad Filat. Head of the Medication Agency Alexandru Coman said that until now they worked in far from ideal conditions, which required improvements. “Medication quality control is a key-factor in ensuring quality and is done through the laboratory. With the opening of the new headquarters, all conditions for a normal activity will be provided”, highlighted Alexandru Coman. The director added that the new headquarters’ building began in 2004. The construction was finalized using Budget money. Minister of Healthcare Andrei Usatii stated that the lab will be furnished with all things necessary within 6 months, and the Ministry will strictly monitor the way in which its orders are respected. 31 employees make up the personnel of the Medication and Medical Equipment Quality Control Laboratory.