The Winners of Achilles Data Exposed Dr. Max Pharmacies. Applications for the new edition are now open

The Business of Health: How the Dr. Max pharmacy chain took over the pharmaceutical market and transformed pharmacists into shopkeepers. The winning team of the 8th edition of the Achilles Data program by the Bakala Foundation investigated why small, independent pharmacies are disappearing from Czech streets. And now, a new opportunity opens up for aspiring journalists – applications for the 9th year of the course are now open.

“How is such a monopoly even possible? It turns out that, legally, there are three separate entities—three different companies. On paper, there’s nothing for the Antimonopoly Office to solve,” says Simona Stejskalová, a student from the winning team Veritas. Under the guidance of Slovak journalist Xénia Makarová, the team from Palacký University in Olomouc examined the growing influence of the Penta investment group on the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors—primarily through the Dr. Max pharmacy chain.

This year’s students will again have a chance to uncover stories just as big. As of Tuesday, April 15, applications are open for the next round of the Achilles Data program.

“Thanks to Achilles Data, we learned how to work with open sources and freely available data in a way that was actually useful for us,” one course participant commented on the four-month-long investigative journey. Applicants have until the end of September to submit their applications for the 9th year of the program.

This Year’s Findings? Russian Propaganda and the End of Kasárna Karlín In addition to the winning investigation into the Dr. Max network, student teams also tackled other important topics—such as the political influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the story behind the closure of Prague’s iconic cultural venue, Kasárna Karlín.

For the first time, students from Ukraine joined participants from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. In total, 47 students from five countries took part in Achilles Data 2024, working in 12 investigative teams.

Organized by the Bakala Foundation in collaboration with Zastavme korupciu Foundation, the Ján Kuciak Investigative Center, and with support from the U.S. Embassy in Prague, the program began with a three-day intensive bootcamp led by experienced investigative journalists from across Central Europe and beyond.

Students explored both theory and practice, covering the latest trends in investigative and data journalism—from working with open-source intelligence and fact-checking, to basic OSINT and geolocation techniques, conducting interviews, and creating engaging infographics.

After the training, the teams launched their own investigations under expert mentorship.

The same experience awaits participants of this year’s 9th edition. Among the trainers will be Aryn Baker, an awarded American journalist and Africa correspondent for TIME magazine. Baker has also reported from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Learn more about the Achilles Data program and how to apply on our website.