Imported medicines in Ukraine may gradually become more expensive due to the dollar exchange rate, fuel prices and delivery costs. This forecast was made on 24 September by Oleksandr Komarida, Chairman of the Board of the European Pharmaceutical Association, during a broadcast on «Kyiv 24». In his view, pharmaceutical companies will keep prices in check, and no major disruptions to the supply of medicines are expected.
Briefly about the main points
- The forecast relates primarily to medicines manufactured abroad.
- The price is affected by the currency, fuel and delivery.
- Pharmaceutical companies will try to limit price rises.
- According to Komarida, no major supply problems are expected.
- There is as yet no information on the percentage increase in prices or the list of medicines.
The forecast does not cover the entire range of products available in pharmacies
Assessment. Komarydi This applies primarily to imported medicines and does not mean that the prices of all medicines in pharmacies will change at the same time. Currency and logistics costs continue to influence pricing, although, according to him, pharmaceutical companies will try to prevent a sharp rise in prices.
The expert did not specify any particular deadlines, expected percentage increases or a list of medicines whose prices may change. Nor is there a separate assessment of the impact of the damage pharmaceutical warehouses on the cost of certain medicines.
Ukraine has a National Price Catalogue for medicines, which sets out maximum wholesale and calculated maximum retail prices for the categories specified in the regulations. At the same time, this mechanism does not eliminate commercial costs relating to currency and transport.
The market is reorganising its logistics following the Russian strikes
The comment was made against the backdrop of Russian strikes on pharmaceutical industry facilities. Komarida believes that this should not cause any major disruptions to the supply of medicines, particularly those manufactured in Ukraine; this is his assessment of the market situation.
At the end of August, whilst martial law was in force, the government simplified the rules on the storage of medicines so that operators could redistribute stocks more quickly between different sites. The Ministry of Health also discussed the practical implementation of these changes with the largest distributors.
Spreading stocks across different locations may help to reduce the risk of supply disruptions following damage to a single warehouse; however, it does not eliminate the costs of delivery, storage and security. This refers to a forecast of a gradual rise in the price of imported medicines, rather than an announced general price increase.
