The Ministry of Health plans to regulate prices for over-the-counter drugs: the Presidential Office warns about the risks

Deputy Minister of Health Edem Adamanov stated during a working meeting that the Ministry of Health plans to determine a list of over-the-counter medicines (OTC drugs) for which price restrictions will be introduced. This was reported by an informed source of UNN, who was present at the meeting.

However, this initiative was objected to by the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Vereshchuk. In particular, she emphasized that this approach creates preconditions for corruption, and additional price restrictions may put new manufacturers in an uncompetitive position. 

According to the UNN source, the new restrictions will complicate the entry of new players into the market, reduce competition and create risks of collusion between market participants. As a result, the consumer will only lose, as his choice is reduced, and manufacturers get the opportunity to dictate prices in a narrow competitive environment.

Experts of the pharmaceutical market also note that in EU countries, prices for OTC drugs are mostly not regulated by the state, but are formed exclusively by market mechanisms. This means that the introduction of state price control on certain over-the-counter medicines in Ukraine would contradict European practice.

Currently, there is no official decision on this issue, but discussions are ongoing. Whether the Ministry of Health will heed the warnings is an open question.

Reminder

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine №168 of February 14, 2025 provides for new rules for regulating the pharmaceutical market. In particular, restrictions were introduced on markups on supply and marketing and retail allowances for all medicines, and not only for certain categories, as it was before March 1.

The purpose of the resolution was to reduce prices for medicines and increase their availability to the population. At the same time, patient organizations warned that excessive regulation could lead to drug shortages, the closure of pharmacies in small towns and villages, and the termination of social programs to support patients.

Currently, the Ministry of Health is also developing regulatory legal acts regarding the Procedure for Referencing Prices for Medicines and the Procedure for Declaring Prices for Medicines in the National Price Catalog.