Voronezh Oblast in Top 10 for Illegal Dental Clinics

Voronezh Oblast has entered the top 10 regions for the number of dental clinics operating with violations. Such data are provided in a study by the Public Consumer Initiative (OPI), published by Izvestia. It is noted that the analysis was based on data from the Federal Tax Service (FNS), Roszdravnadzor, and the drug labeling system.

OPI, a non-profit organization established with the support of the Russian State Trade and Economic University (RSTEU), says its main goal is to improve current legislation on consumer protection. According to the activists« research, more than 61% of clinics in the region operate either without a license at all or are not registered in state drug control systems. This means that such clinics may use drugs and materials of unknown origin purchased through »gray« schemes.

The problem is nationwide: according to OPI, about 45% of private dental offices across the country allow violations. The alarming rate in Voronezh Oblast (61.4%) is above the Russian average. Only Saint Petersburg (80%), Moscow (78.5%), Sverdlovsk Oblast (72%), Chelyabinsk Oblast (67.2%), and Tatarstan (65.4%) surpass the region.

Among individual entrepreneurs (IEs), the share of those operating with violations reaches 56%, while for legal entities this figure is 11.5%. At the same time, individual entrepreneurs, according to expert estimates, account for over 70% of the private dentistry market. Experts cite the significant difference in administrative liability as the key reason for this situation. Fines for IEs for working without a license or violations in the circulation of medicines are tens of times lower than for organizations. For many unscrupulous entrepreneurs, paying a small fine simply becomes a «cost of doing business».

Voronezh1.ru has sent official requests to the regional Roszdravnadzor and the Ministry of Health to learn about measures being taken to control dental clinics in the region.