Pharmacies should return to the healthcare system, not remain a tool of market competition – Expert

Ukraine’s pharmaceutical sector needs a fundamental rethink. Pharmacies should be an integral part of the healthcare system, rather than remaining objects of cutthroat commercial competition.

This was emphasized by Nataliia Hutorova, honored lawyer of Ukraine, Chair of the Board of the NGO “Association of Medical and Pharmaceutical Law”, during a press conference at the Media Center Ukraine.

She noted that pharmacies have effectively ceased to function as healthcare institutions, with the current state of the Ukrainian pharmacy market being the result of artificial monopolization, weak regulation and the profit-maximizing ambitions of certain business players.

“In no EU country does the pharmacy business operate under a monopoly. This is an artificial monopoly, one created in Ukraine due to the lack of proper regulation and, no doubt, the strong desire of certain quite capable businessmen to make money,” she said.

Hutorova stressed that the current practice of opening “door-to-door” pharmacies in cities is a form of aggressive market competition – one that is ultimately paid for by patients.

“The patient pays the rent, the utilities, and the salaries of the pharmacy employees, and there are five of them standing ‘door to door’. What for? Does the patient need that? Probably not,” she observed.

At the same time, the expert pointed out that in rural areas, where people also need access to medicines, pharmacies are often completely absent because it is unprofitable for the networks.

Such an imbalance, she said, indicates the need for profound reform.

“The first crucial step is to transform pharmacies back into healthcare institutions, where pharmacists providing pharmaceutical services are primarily focused on improving the health of patients – not on profits,” Hutorova explained.

She stressed that Ukraine can overcome these challenges and move to a more balanced model – provided there is a professional approach, scientific analysis, and broad public dialogue.

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