Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.9
By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend:
Uzbekistan meets bulk of its demand in medicines through import, as was noted at the meeting devoted to the analysis of effectiveness of the ongoing work on development of pharmaceutical industry and defining urgent tasks for the future held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Currently, 74 percent of domestic demand is covered at the expense of imports despite the fact that domestic enterprises have been granted various privileges for production of import-substituting products for several years. More than half of 6,824 types of imported medicines can be produced in Uzbekistan, but this figure currently stands at only 27 percent. Medicines used in oncology, gynecology and dentistry are completely imported from abroad.
Last year, 1.6 billion conditional packages of medicines and medical products were produced, which is 34 percent more than in 2016. Also 71 investment projects were launched in the industry, 33 facilities worth $148 million were put into operation, 76 new products were produced.
However, Mirziyoyev stressed that the population of the country does not feel the results of reforms implemented in the sphere at all. He added that despite opportunities created by the state, still some problems remain unresolved in the industry.
"Most of local pharmaceutical companies do not use modern technologies, no attention is paid to production of medicinal substances," said Mirziyoyev. "Instead of switching to a full production cycle, enterprises are still engaged in importation from abroad and packaging of finished products."
Furthermore, there was noted that only 12 out of 94 enterprises have an international GMP certificate (Good Manufacturing Practice), which ensures recognition of products in other countries. The industry’s enterprises are limited to production of medicines of a simple formula. The physical volume of production in the industry increased by 34 percent in 2017, while the growth in value terms was only 16 percent.
The president emphasized that the role of scientific research institutes is not felt in the pharmaceutical industry. Presently, on the basis of their development only 1,6 tons of medicinal substances of 16 names are produced using herbal raw materials. In addition, there is not enough personnel in the industry who could effectively work with modern technologies.
The president noted a need for developing a set of additional measures on significantly increasing production of medicinal substances, expanding production with a full cycle, introduction of international standards and new innovative technologies into the sphere.
The task was set on taking additional measures for ensuring stability and preventing artificial increase in prices of medicines in the domestic market.
He also stressed a need for creating an educational scientific laboratory and an experimental production complex at Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute in order to accelerate the introduction of new developments into practice.