Muradyan: Health ministry develops mechanisms to curb drug price growth

Armenian Health Ministry is developing mechanisms to curb the increase in prices of medicines after the decision on labeling of medical products takes effect, Health Minister Armen Muradyan told reporters following the government session today.

In his words, the ministry is concerned over the issue and tries to find a solution. The minister assured those present that the draft law on medicines, which is currently in the discussion stage, pursues the goal of turning the circulation of medical products into a controlled sphere.

“We need to do everything to make medicines accessible to our citizens. But there is a contradiction here because the more controlled the sphere, the more complex price formation is, however, our efforts today are aimed at preventing a hike in drug prices and creating special mechanisms to curb a price increase,” the minister said.

As regards labeling of drugs, he also indicated some technical problems related to control over their expiration dates and maintenance of temperature conditions during the labeling. The ministry is developing solutions in this direction as well, Muradyan said.

When asked why labeling of medical products is needed when this market in Armenia is already transparent, Armen Muradyan replied: “Let me disagree that the drug market is the most systemized and transparent. We are concerned about drugs’ storage and expiration dates. We will have a substantial talk about technical issues when the regulations are ready to start labeling”.