Acting Minister of Health Kanbek Dosmambetov met with representatives of the private pharmaceutical sector to discuss issues related to the continuous supply of vital medicines to medical institutions.
The meeting emphasized the need to eliminate the shortage of essential medications, which patients often have to purchase abroad. A commission has been formed under the Ministry of Health with the task of developing proposals to improve drug supply by December 31. A number of practical measures are also planned to be implemented soon to address the shortage issue.
One of the tasks of the Ministry of Health is to optimize and strengthen the work of the State Enterprise "Kyrgyzpharmacia," which includes additional funding and improvement of procurement processes.
Additionally, the meeting discussed the high dependence on imports, which account for up to 95% of the market. This makes the system vulnerable. In this regard, the government has proposed financial support to domestic pharmaceutical companies, including credit programs through the State Development Bank aimed at localizing drug production.
Dosmambetov also raised issues concerning the procurement of medications for patients with cancer. Meeting participants noted that the Ministry of Health faces challenges regarding the clinical appropriateness of certain purchases.
The minister cited the procurement of the oncology drug "Keytruda" (pembrolizumab) without the necessary accompanying documents, which is associated with certain risks. The total amount of this procurement was about 80 million soms, while the purchased volume of the medication is sufficient to treat only about six patients at the fourth stage of cancer.
Participants emphasized that such an approach raises doubts about the effectiveness of using budget funds, which could have been directed towards purchasing medications for treating early-stage diseases, allowing for a larger number of patients to be covered and increasing the chances of recovery.
"Oncology drugs should not be the subject of marketing experiments or profit extraction. Every decision should be made with consideration of the number of lives saved," the minister noted.
In this regard, it was stated that unethical marketing, pressure on doctors, and the substitution of clinical indications for commercial interests are unacceptable. All violations in the field of drug supply will be subject to legal assessment.
The Ministry of Health reported that to enhance control and prevent unscrupulous practices, the implementation of a drug traceability system will be completed by the end of January 2026. "This system will ensure transparent control over the movement of medications from the moment of procurement to the patient, allowing for the forecasting of needs, advance planning of purchases, and quick responses to shortage risks, eliminating opaque schemes," the department added.
The Department of Medicines and Medical Devices has also been tasked with developing a mechanism for creating a registry of unscrupulous participants in the pharmaceutical market, which will serve as a basis for limiting their participation in the supply of medications in Kyrgyzstan.
In conclusion, the minister emphasized that drug policy should be formed solely in the interests of the state and patients, noting that there should be no place for private interests in the pharmaceutical market.
The parties agreed to continue the dialogue and develop proposals aimed at ensuring the availability of vital medicines, increasing transparency in the pharmaceutical market, and protecting the interests of patients.
