Ukrainian pharma market shrinks by 27% in volume, 20% in value in H1 2022 - survey

MOSCOW. Aug 24 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian pharmaceutical market contracted by 27% year-on-year in volume and by 20% in value in H1 2022 due to the crisis, Ukrainian media said citing a report by SMD on the country's pharma market in the first half of 2022.

That said SMD did not disclose absolute figures in the report.

According to the company, the deepest decline on the country's pharma market over the reported period was seen in April, when the market dropped by 50% year-on-year in volume and 51% in value.

SMD experts note a significant impact of migration and population decline on the situation on the pharma market.

At the same time, the experts point out a certain stabilization in May and a marginal market increase in money terms over the recent months that reflects rising drug prices.

In the first half of this year, actual consumption of medications was higher than monitoring data showed due to significant quantities of humanitarian aid received by Ukraine, SMD experts said.

Meantime, the share of state procurement purchases in January-June 2022 remained stable in volume standing at 21% versus 20% in the first half of 2021, but expanded in value from 25% to 30% thanks to a bigger share of centralized purchases of highly priced products.

The share of domestically manufactured drugs also increased to 38.4% in January-June 2022 from 37% in 2021, the company's experts noted.

The survey suggests that the company Sinovac contextually became the leader on the pharma market in the revised period thanks to purchases of its vaccine against Covid-19.

Setting aside this company, Farmak retains a market leader position despite substantial decrease in sales. Pharmaceutical company Darnitsa ranks the second and Yuria-Pharm the third, SMD said.

Sanofi and Arterium took the fourth and the fifth positions, respectively, in the rating of Ukrainian pharmaceutical market leaders in the first half of this year.