Fano City Council rejects motion on ethical drug procurement

The Fano City Council has rejected a motion regarding ethical criteria for the procurement and distribution of generic drugs by the municipal pharmacy service, ASET. The proposed motion sought to instruct municipal pharmacies to avoid prioritizing products from the Teva Group—a multinational corporation—when multiple equivalent drugs with the same active ingredient are available. The motion was framed as a symbolic ethical gesture related to international political stances.

Opposition members argued that the majority avoided the core merits of the proposal, claiming the decision ignored the ethical implications of the choice. Conversely, the majority defended the rejection, stating that municipal pharmacies must prioritize public health, therapeutic continuity, and professional standards over political boycotts. They argued that excluding an entire pharmaceutical group could cause supply issues, increase costs for ASET, and create confusion for elderly or fragile patients regarding medication adherence.