Experts express concern about drug prices and shortages of medications in pharmacies
“The reduction of even a small number of pharmacies will not yield positive results,” commented economist Ruslan Omurzakov in an interview with Vesti.kg. He shared his opinion on the proposal by Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Health Erkin Chechebaev to reduce the number of pharmacies in the country and limit the population's access to medications.
In his view, before making such statements, the minister should consider both the medical and economic consequences of such measures.
“The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has not provided any conclusions on the feasibility of closing pharmacies. How will private entrepreneurs, who provide jobs and pay taxes, respond? Government regulation of prices and markets, as global experience shows, often does not lead to positive results,” he added.
Social scientist and writer Alexander Katsev also commented on the situation for Vesti.kg: “The minister has already explained his words, saying he was misunderstood. Personally, I am concerned about the issue of drug prices. We were promised pharmacies with affordable prices, but reality shows the opposite.”
The high cost of necessary medications and the shortage of vital drugs negatively affect the health of the population.
“For example, even a simple task – buying a thermometer at a pharmacy – becomes a serious problem. And with winter approaching, it is simply essential,” noted Katsev.
The press service of the Ministry of Health later clarified that the minister's words about closing pharmacies were taken out of context, and his ideas are aimed at organizing the healthcare situation, which is practiced in other countries as well.
It is worth noting that since his appointment, Minister Erkin Chechebaev has repeatedly proposed radical measures. Among them are the relocation of several medical institutions outside the capital, increasing the cost of medical services, limiting the sale of alcohol and cigarettes, raising excise taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic products, as well as a ban on salt and sugar.
According to Chechebaev, the focus should be on disease prevention rather than treatment. High prices and limited medical services, in his opinion, are the norm in other countries and should be implemented in Kyrgyzstan.
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