Zelensky convenes NSDC meeting over drug prices: details (video)
10 February 20:54
On February 10, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council dedicated to reducing drug prices. The head of state announced this in his evening video address, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
“There was a meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister Svyrydenko, and Health Minister Lyashko on drug prices. The prices are absolutely inadequate. Pharmacy chains and manufacturers must provide more comfortable conditions for our people. We are preparing a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council and very specific proposals in the interests of our people to reduce prices,” the President of Ukraine said.
Reaction of pharmacy chains
The largest pharmacy chains in Ukraine, such as Apteka 9-1-1, Bazhaemo Zdorovya, ANC, Apteka Dobrogo Dnia, and Podorozhnyk, have already signed a declaration on lowering drug prices. They have proposed to the Ministry of Health a price reduction mechanism that will be gradually implemented starting from March 1, 2025. To prevent possible price manipulation, they envisage mechanisms of public control and cooperation with antitrust authorities.
“National manufacturers of medicinal products, distributors, pharmacies acting on the basis of the relevant statutory documents have concluded this Declaration in order to ensure the availability of medicinal products for Ukrainian citizens by reducing prices for medicinal products at all levels – from the Ukrainian manufacturer to the final retail sale,” the document says.
It provides for the following:
- National manufacturers of medicinal products shall reduce selling prices for the entire list of registered medicinal products sold and available in pharmacies of Ukraine across the entire nomenclature of the enterprise, compared to selling (list) prices as of January 1, 2025.
- Distributors reduce their wholesale prices accordingly, i.e., apply a discount on their margins proportional to the manufacturer.
- Pharmacies reduce retail prices, providing the end consumer with a favorable offer, i.e. apply a discount proportional to the manufacturer on their margin for goods supplied by the supplier with the specified discount.
The authors of the declaration note that such interaction will lead to a cumulative reduction in the cost of domestically produced medicines for end consumers. The reduction of wholesale and retail prices applies to the list of medicinal products that will be released by national manufacturers after the entry into force of this Declaration. The signatories undertake to prevent hidden price increases or changes in supply chains that may offset the agreements.
