Changes in state regulation of the drug market, initiated by a well-known pharmaceutical manufacturer, have led to an increase in retail prices for drugs, a decrease in their availability, and a reduction in tax payments from manufacturers. This is stated in the material of the publication “Glavkom”.
According to Glavkom, the main beneficiary of regulatory changes was Darnytsia: “Despite the increase in profitability, the company did not reflect this in tax payments: in the first half of 2025, it transferred UAH 298.9 million to the budget, which is less than in the same period in 2024 (UAH 326.4 million).”
VIDEO OF THE DAY
According to Glavkom, the abandonment of marketing expenses allowed the company to save about UAH 1.3 billion, from which the state should have received at least UAH 234 million in profit tax.
According to economic expert Oleg Pendzin , the ban on marketing agreements had negative consequences for the market.
“Marketing services are an important cost-recovery mechanism for pharmacies and ensure the availability of medicines for the population. Their ban, together with the restriction of mark-ups, has led to financial instability and the closure of pharmacies, especially outside large cities,” the economist noted.
ADVERTISING
According to various estimates, writes Glavkom, state intervention in market mechanisms has not met expectations: instead of reducing drug prices, there has been a reduction in competition, the loss of pharmacy chains, and a decrease in tax revenues.
In parallel, an active discussion is ongoing regarding the role of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) in the current situation. Market experts, as Glavkom writes, believe that the investigation initiated by Darnytsia may lead to the concentration of influence of the manufacturer and restriction of competition.
“According to international criteria, the level of concentration of the pharmacy market in Ukraine remains low, and any administrative steps against pharmacy chains, on the contrary, create risks of monopolization,” the Glavkom material states.
ADVERTISING
It was previously reported that the Verkhovna Rada registered a draft law on regulating pharmacy activities in accordance with EU norms.
