The event served as an important platform for open dialogue between business representatives, government authorities and industry experts. Participants included the Association of Representative Offices of Foreign Pharmaceutical Companies and Manufacturers in the Republic of Uzbekistan, the State Institution “Centre for Pharmaceutical Product Safety” under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Antimonopoly Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as leading representatives of the national pharmaceutical sector.
Opening remarks were delivered by Mukhabbat Askarova together with Mirzokhid Kodirov. In their speeches, they emphasised the importance of constructive and transparent cooperation between the pharmaceutical community and state authorities.
The event continued with an analytical overview of the current state of the pharmaceutical market in Uzbekistan delivered by Durbek Aliev. He noted market growth in monetary terms alongside a decline in sales volumes measured in packaging units, stressing that Uzbekistan remains one of the key participants within the Eurasian pharmaceutical market. Among the companies demonstrating the highest growth rates were Gedeon Richter, KRKA, NIKA-PHARM, RADIKS NPP, Sanofi, STADA and other market participants.
Particular attention was devoted to the panel discussion involving representatives of the Ministry of Health, including the State Institution “Centre for Pharmaceutical Product Safety”, the Pharmacological Committee, and pharmaceutical companies. The discussion addressed several pressing issues, including the lack of transparency in the calculation of fees for variation procedures, which in practice frequently exceed the cost of a new registration. Participants also highlighted operational difficulties associated with foreign currency payments by international companies.
Representatives of the regulatory authorities confirmed their awareness of the issues raised and stated that the matters are currently under consideration, including the potential revision of the applicable pricing schedule and amendments to the relevant regulatory provisions. It was emphasised that the current restrictions are linked to the legal status of state institutions and the existing requirements imposed by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health. The authorities also noted that inter-agency discussions are ongoing regarding the inclusion of an additional provision in the Regulation governing the activities of representative offices, similar to the approach previously adopted in relation to digital labelling requirements.
The event also featured a presentation by Alexander Panov, who shared practical experience relating to the implementation of regulatory models for the localisation of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Russian Federation. He provided a detailed overview of instruments such as SPICs (special investment contracts), offset contracts and industrial subsidies. Each mechanism was analysed in detail from the perspective of its advantages and its potential applicability within the Uzbek legal and economic environment. The exchange of experience represented an important step towards further localisation of pharmaceutical production in Uzbekistan.
The business programme concluded with presentations by representatives of the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including Botir Sharipov and Sherzod Makhamadaliev. They presented significant progress achieved in the digitalisation of antimonopoly regulation through the implementation of the FAIR TECH information system.
The introduction of the FAIR TECH system, incorporating the FAIR PRICE and PHARM INFO modules, has enabled the authorities to identify and promptly suppress widespread instances of excessive pricing of medicinal products. In 2024 alone, approximately 270,000 violations amounting to UZS 11.6 billion were identified, while during the first quarter of 2025 additional violations exceeding UZS 2.1 billion were detected across 173 pharmacies. Appropriate enforcement measures were taken in each case, demonstrating the effectiveness of digital tools in ensuring market transparency and protecting consumer rights.
The VERBA LEGAL business breakfast once again confirmed its importance as an effective communication platform bringing together market participants, regulators and the professional community. Openness to dialogue and joint analysis of key industry challenges will contribute to the development of solutions aimed at ensuring the sustainable growth of Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical sector.
