Cartel uncovered in Bashkiria and Udmurtia in supply of medical equipment worth 55 million rubles

According to the UFAS, the operators colluded “with the aim of establishing and maintaining prices at auctions.” “The companies refused to compete, systematically using a single model of behavior when participating in trading procedures,” the antimonopoly service stated.

The department specified that BMT-Medtekhnika and Nihao violated paragraph 2, part 1, article 11 of Federal Law No. 135-FZ “On the Protection of Competition,” which states that such agreements between companies may be recognized as a cartel.

According toRBC , materials indicating violations were sent to the regional FAS by employees of the central office of the service. According to the agency, from 2022 to 2023, the organizations participated together in seven purchases organized by the Bashkir State Medical University, the Republican Center for Trade of Bashkortostan and the Regional Center for Procurement of Udmurtia. The customers planned to purchase ultrasound diagnostic systems, anesthesia and respiratory devices and other medical equipment. The initial price of the contracts exceeded 55 million rubles in total.

The FAS clarified that the cartel participants reduced prices minimally (0.5–1%) and did not compete with each other in cases where no other bids were received for the auction. According to the FAS, the companies used the same IP address to submit bids. In addition, the founders of the legal entities had organizations registered in Neftekamsk, which may also indicate their connection.

According to SPARK-Interfax, BMT-Medtekhnika LLC was registered in Bashkortostan in 2014. The company specializes in wholesale trade of pharmaceutical products. The main beneficiary is Daria Osinina. The company's revenue in 2024 amounted to 504.8 million rubles, net profit - 5 million rubles.

LLC "Nihao" was registered in Udmurtia in 2022. The company specializes in the wholesale of machinery, equipment and instruments used for medical purposes. The beneficiary is Olga Sitdikova. The company has a high risk, there is no data on revenue and profit for 2024, as well as on the presence of inaccurate information in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities.

In mid-April 2025, the FAS Russia reported unscheduled anti-cartel inspections at three pharmaceutical companies - JSC Center for Implementation Protek, JSC Pharmstandard, Primafarm LLC, and then at four more - JSC GlaxoSmithKline Trading, LLC Advanced Trading, LLC Orpharm, and LLC Medpharm. The FAS indicated that all legal entities are suspected of violating antimonopoly legislation in procurement for the needs of the Federal Center for Planning and Organization of Drug Provision to Citizens of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.