One of the main tasks facing the ministry is to eliminate the shortage of popular and critically important drugs that some patients are forced to purchase abroad. A special commission has been established to develop comprehensive solutions, and it is expected to present its proposals for improving drug supply by the end of December this year. Specific steps have also been outlined to increase the supply of scarce medications.
The minister emphasized that, given the increasing demand for drugs from the VEM list, a comprehensive approach is required to ensure the stability of supplies, and there is a need to consolidate the efforts of all participants in the process. In this regard, the optimization of the work of the State Enterprise "Kyrgyzpharm" is planned, which includes additional financial investments and improvements in procurement mechanisms.
The existing structure of the pharmaceutical market, where up to 95% of medications are imported, remains vulnerable. In this context, the government is developing financial support instruments for local manufacturers, including credit programs through the State Development Bank aimed at localizing drug production.
Discussing the procurement of medications for cancer patients, the minister noted the necessity of making well-considered decisions. In particular, serious deficiencies were identified in the procurement of the drug "Keytruda" (pembrolizumab) by the State Enterprise "Kyrgyzpharm," which was carried out without the necessary documentation. The total procurement amount was about 80 million soms, but this volume is only sufficient for treating a limited number of patients—approximately six individuals at the fourth stage of the disease.
The minister expressed doubts about the rationality of using budget funds, indicating that similar resources could have been directed towards purchasing medications for treating patients at earlier stages of oncology, which would allow a significantly larger number of people to receive treatment and increase their chances of recovery.
Kanaybek Dosmambetov also emphasized the unacceptability of unethical marketing, manipulation of applications, and pressure on doctors. He noted that any violations in the field of drug supply will be strictly assessed from a legal standpoint.
To enhance control, it was instructed to complete the implementation of a drug tracking system and bring it to full operational status by the end of January. This system will ensure transparency in monitoring the movement of drugs from the moment of procurement to the end consumer, as well as predict needs and respond promptly to risks of shortages.
The Ministry of Health has also been tasked with developing a mechanism for forming a registry of unscrupulous participants in the pharmaceutical market. Being listed in this registry will serve as a basis for restricting participation in the supply of medicines within the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Summarizing the meeting, the minister noted that drug policy should be formed primarily in the interests of the state and patients. The parties agreed to continue discussions and present proposals aimed at improving the accessibility of VEM, transparency in the pharmaceutical market, and protecting the interests of patients.
