From April 1, 2025, in Uzbekistan, trade surcharges will be applied exclusively to the category of drugs that are dispensed by prescription. This was stated in the presidential decree on “Additional Measures for the Rapid Development of the Pharmaceutical Sector”specified.
Since 2017, regardless of the number of intermediaries, the surcharge set for wholesale trade of drugs and medical products imported from abroad or purchased from domestic manufacturers cannot exceed 15 percent of the purchased price. In retail trade, trade surcharges set cannot exceed 20 percent of the wholesale price are applied.
From now on, the 15-20 percent markup remains only for drugs dispensed on a prescription basis.
For drugs with the same composition but marketed under different trade names by the same manufacturer, the lowest reference price will be applied to all such drugs.
Additionally, the decree imposes the following additional tasks on the Pharmaceutical Development Agency:
- to develop the industry of biologically active additives and cosmetic products, including market research, analysis, and localization of production, assisting enterprises in this field in applying advanced foreign practices and standards;
- to monitor and account for the investment projects of regional pharmaceutical companies in cooperation with local administrations;
- to digitize the pharmaceutical field and implement information programs.
By the end of 2025, the Laboratory of the Pharmaceutical Products Safety Center will undergo the World Health Organization's initial prequalification process.
