Politics Health Economy Local 2026-02-12T13:41:52+00:00

ANDIS Corruption Probe: Key Phase in High-Cost Medicine Procurement Case

The investigation into a suspected corruption scheme at Argentina's National Disability Agency (ANDIS) enters a critical phase with the analysis of a seized server from a pharmacy. Authorities are probing the alleged link between officials and businessmen to secure illicit benefits from state contracts for high-cost medicines.


ANDIS Corruption Probe: Key Phase in High-Cost Medicine Procurement Case

Federal Judge Sebastián Casanellos stated that officials from the National Disability Agency (ANDIS) and entrepreneurs from the health sector would have formed an organization aimed at directing contracts and obtaining undue economic benefits. Although Droguería Suizo Argentina was not included in the first round of prosecutions, the Federal Chamber of Criminal Appeals rejected the nullity request presented by the Kovalivker brothers, confirming that the company will continue to be investigated. With this new probatory instance, the ANDIS case adds an element that could be decisive in determining the degree of participation of Droguería Suizo Argentina and the Kovalivker brothers in the alleged public-private corruption scheme linked to the purchase of high-cost medicines. The ruling noted that the company is mentioned in multiple communications and records incorporated into the case. According to the prosecution, between December 2023 and October 2025, ANDIS would have operated as a "million-dollar payment window" with procedures that did not guarantee principles of transparency and competition. Buenos Aires, Feb 12 (NA) — The case investigating a suspected corruption scheme at the National Disability Agency (ANDIS) enters a key phase with the opening of the computer server seized at Droguería Suizo Argentina, a company owned by brothers Jonathan and Emmanuel Kovalivker. During the raid on their home, an open safe with little money inside was found. Investigators believe that the technical analysis of the server will allow them to reconstruct economic movements, communications, and any directives issued from the company to the state agency. According to the prosecution's hypothesis, through former officials prosecuted like Pablo Atchabahian and Matías Garbellini, the company would have had influence on internal administrative decisions, even including staff dismissals. The behavior of the entrepreneurs during the raids also came under scrutiny. Jonathan Kovalivker did not appear before Justice for four days following a procedure at his home and subsequently delivered a factory-reset cell phone. For Federal Prosecutor Franco Picardi, the analysis of that material could be decisive to deepen the hypothesis about the "preponderant role" that the firm would have had within the agency. The case has already led to the prosecution of 18 people for fraudulent administration to the detriment of the State, incompatible negotiations with public office, and bribery. In this context, the pharmacy benefited in one year with purchases for approximately 55,000 million pesos, a volume that is now under analysis. The file includes conversations that refer to the need to "have people with the correct flag", along with the Swiss flag emoji, as well as references to "the Swiss". In the vehicle of Emmanuel Kovalivker, intercepted in Nordelta, security forces found 266,000 dollars distributed in envelopes and seven million pesos in cash.