In Ukraine, an initiative has been approved, which can significantly affect the prices of medicines. The largest pharmacy retailers have signed a declaration on the availability of medicines , which provides a reduction in the cost of medicines at all levels - from the manufacturer to the end consumer.
According to the Pharmacy Professional Association of Ukraine (APAU) , market participants pledged to reduce holiday, wholesale and retail prices to make the medicine more accessible to Ukrainians. Manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies should act in synchronous, using proportional discounts.
What does the declaration provide?
The signatories have taken on a number of obligations:
Manufacturers will reduce prices for registered medicines compared to January 1, 2025.
Distributors will respectively reduce their margins, maintaining the balance of the price chain.
Pharmacies are obliged to proportionally reduce retail prices for drugs.
The parties also pledged to prevent a hidden increase in prices or artificial shortage of medicines .
Who has already joined?
At the moment, the initiative was joined by:
"Pharmacy 9-1"
"We wish health"
"Pharmacy of the ANC"
"Pharmacy Good afternoon"
"Pharmacy plantain"
The declaration is also open to join all interested market participants who support transparent pricing.
If any signator does not fulfill the obligations, the rest of the participants have the right to contact the antitrust authorities and sectoral associations to review his participation in the program.
The declaration is expected to come into force on March 1, 2025 .
However, experts warn that a real decrease in prices will depend on the readiness of all participants to fulfill the arrangements. If pharmacies, manufacturers and distributors are obliged, Ukrainians will really be able to buy medicines cheaper.
