Is taking the agency for a specific medicine considered monopoly?
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The questioner : What is the ruling, O Shaykh, for one who wants to take the guarantee for a specific medicine and have it distributed in Jordan, for example, only through this person? Is this considered monopoly, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : How?
Abu Malik: Now, we have what is called commercial agencies. A man goes and travels to Europe, or Germany, or Italy, or France, and he sees a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, so he agrees with them that the import rights belong to him only and to no one else. And this is, of course, well-known... it is well-known globally. The company does not supply anyone but him... if the company exports to someone else... he files a lawsuit against them and demands very large damages, and the same applies in reverse?
The Shaykh : If this agreement does not necessitate that he controls the prices of medicines and raises them on the people, and if this price increase does not result from it, then it is permissible; otherwise, it is not.
The Shaykh : How?
Abu Malik: Now, we have what is called commercial agencies. A man goes and travels to Europe, or Germany, or Italy, or France, and he sees a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, so he agrees with them that the import rights belong to him only and to no one else. And this is, of course, well-known... it is well-known globally. The company does not supply anyone but him... if the company exports to someone else... he files a lawsuit against them and demands very large damages, and the same applies in reverse?
The Shaykh : If this agreement does not necessitate that he controls the prices of medicines and raises them on the people, and if this price increase does not result from it, then it is permissible; otherwise, it is not.