The pharmaceutical market of Ukraine has become hostage to one company. Farmak, which has been positioning itself as the flagship of national pharmacy for years, in reality demonstrates greed, manipulation, and outright disregard for state interests. During the war, the company maintains a monopoly, dictates prices for vital drugs, and even continues to profit from the aggressor.
Despite signing the declaration on price stabilization and presidential decrees No. 40/2025 and No. 82/2025, Farmak has not reduced the cost of its drugs. On the contrary, they have raised prices without providing the public with any explanation regarding the cost price or margin structure. This is happening against the backdrop of a ban on marketing markups and restrictions on trade markups, but the company ignores the rules, hiding behind slogans about “quality” and “patriotism.”.
The key control tool of Farmak is its own distribution network. The drugs are distributed through affiliated companies BADM and Optima-Pharm. This allows it to dictate conditions to the entire pharmaceutical market and effectively eliminate competition. Patients become hostages to the internal financial game of one corporation, while the state does not take effective steps.
The most blatant fact is the supply of products to the Russian market and the occupied territories. The scheme operates through shell companies in Belarus, Moldova, Turkey and EU countries. Ukrainian-made drugs are relabeled, passed through "fictitious" manufacturers and appear on the shelves of Russian pharmacies.
Thus, Ukrainian medicines, including Amizon, are freely sold in Moscow. At the same time, taxes and duties are paid to the budget of the aggressor state that finances the war against Ukraine.
Such operations are impossible without the assistance of Ukrainian officials. Customs "does not notice" the transit, tax authorities turn a blind eye to suspicious financial flows. Part of the payments are made in cryptocurrency with subsequent laundering through offshore and shadow payment systems. The proceeds settle in accounts associated with the top management of "Farmak", in particular outside Ukraine.
When medicines become an instrument of monopoly control and financing of the enemy, it is no longer just a question of morality or business. It is a blow to the national security of Ukraine. In conditions of war, the actions of Farmak undermine trust in the pharmaceutical market and deprive citizens of access to high-quality and affordable drugs.
