The Cabinet of Ministers has limited the 35% markup for pharmacies for over-the-counter drugs.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced this on the Telegram channel, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
In particular, he reported that in accordance with the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), the government approves measures to reduce the cost of medicines, first of all, it launches a number of regulations to ensure transparent pricing and proper competition.
"The maximum markup limit for pharmacies is no more than 35% for over-the-counter drugs and a regressive scale for prescription drugs. Suppliers will be able to add no more than 8% to the wholesale price, depending on the cost of the drug," he said.
Control over the availability of medicines in hospitals will also be strengthened. Shmyhal stressed that patients should receive medicines in hospitals free of charge.
He added that within the framework of the Winter Support initiative, the Affordable Medicines program has been expanded to a record level, with over UAH 6 billion allocated in the budget for this purpose.
Shmyhal also noted that from July 2025, all pharmacies will be obliged to conclude an agreement with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) and will dispense medicines under the Affordable Medicines program.
He added that Ukrainian manufacturers will reduce the retail prices of the 100 most popular medicines by 30% starting from March 1.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 12 implemented the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to reduce medicine prices.
In particular, the Cabinet of Ministers is instructed to provide for the establishment of maximum supply and sales surcharges of no more than 10%, charged by distributors of medicines to wholesale and retail prices for all medicines registered in Ukraine, and regressive maximum trade (retail) surcharges to purchase prices for all prescription medicines registered in Ukraine, as well as maximum trade (retail) surcharges of no more than 35% to purchase prices for all non-prescription medicines registered in Ukraine that are not purchased from state and/or local budgets, from March 1, 2025.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the prices of medicines in Ukraine inadequate and stated that a way had been found to reduce the prices of the top 100 medicines by 30% from March 1.
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