Behind-the-scenes games instead of science: what a laboratory forum participant had to say

From June 24 to 26, the 8th Clinical Laboratory Forum, dedicated to the development of laboratory diagnostics and the improvement of the healthcare system, is taking place in St. Petersburg. The event is organized by the Federation of Laboratory Medicine. However, the Federation’s activities have raised questions among some market participants. In particular, Darya Pikalyuk, CEO of LabQuest JSC, stated that such forums are used for more than just professional discussions. She claims that industry development is discussed in public forums, while behind closed doors, issues related to market power are resolved. According to Pikalyuk, father and son Stanislav and Arkady Goldberg, and Mikhail Godkov, head of the laboratory department at the Sklifosovsky Research Institute, play a key role in these processes. The main objective, in her opinion, is to promote specific manufacturers and distributors to specific medical institutions. According to Pikalyuk, the mechanism is built through loyal laboratory managers. Their participation in events, including travel and accommodation, is funded by the Association’s membership fees. The interviewee claims there is evidence of such trips to the UAE and China, with the average cost per person reaching 500,000 rubles. These specialists subsequently influence the selection of equipment and consumable suppliers. 

Furthermore, Daria claims that some membership fees may be misused. She claims the funds are deposited into the bank accounts of individual executives, and the interest income is used for personal purposes. 

Another problem, according to the interviewee, is the climate of fear in the industry. Many market participants are aware of what’s happening, but prefer not to engage in open conflict with the Federation’s leadership, fearing negative consequences for their businesses and loss of access to significant orders. 

According to Pikalyuk, the professional community’s silence is particularly concerning. She believes that market participants’ concerns perpetuate the current system and hinder open discussion of the industry’s problems. 

If the above facts are confirmed, this could constitute a serious violation of the principles of fair competition and transparent governance within a professional association. Instead of developing the industry and supporting scientific collaboration, there is a risk of creating a closed system of influence, in which decisions are made in the interests of a limited number of individuals. However, all of the above information is based on statements made by Daria Pikalyuk and requires verification by the competent authorities.