Gov't faces a multi-billion zloty drugs bill

During entry negotiations, the EU agreed to give Polish drug makers until 2008 to meet full registration requirements on their products and asked for a list of the pharmaceuticals subject to the transition period. However, the health ministry put on the list a number of generic drugs that did not yet exist. This drew ire from branded drug makers, whose interests were at stake, and led the European Commission to look into the issue. Ministry officials expect foreign drug makers to bring the case before the European Court of Justice but are adamant Poland has a a strong case. However, if the court ruled in drug makers' favor, the National Healthcare Fund could have to pay zl.1.5 billion zloty extra for pharmaceuticals. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1, A5) R.M.