In Ukraine, gas stations have officially received licenses to sell medications for the first time. This became possible due to relevant changes in legislation that allowed the sale of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products at gas stations.
This is reported by Finway
Which Networks Have Already Received Permits
As of mid-March, the State Service of Medicines issued the first such licenses for the gas station networks “Ukrnafta” and OKKO. Five locations of these operators have already obtained the right to sell medications. Thus, gas stations have become a new channel for the retail sale of medical products.
Positions of the Ministry of Health and Market Experts
The Ministry of Health notes that the emergence of pharmacy points at gas stations may help reduce prices for medical products. A more important priority, according to representatives of the Ministry, remains the accessibility of medications for the population, rather than just pricing policy.
The Ministry of Health believes that the entry of gas station complexes into the pharmaceutical market may influence the reduction of drug prices. At the same time, the agency emphasizes that the main priority is ensuring the accessibility of medications for the population, rather than their affordability.
However, pharmaceutical market experts are skeptical about the prospects of gas stations as full-fledged players in this field. The reason is the government-imposed limit on the markup for over-the-counter drugs, set at no more than 35%. For gas station businesses, which are accustomed to different profitability indicators from ancillary products, such a margin may not be attractive enough.
Context and Future Initiatives
It is worth noting that earlier, one of the international business associations appealed to the government with a proposal to allow the sale of pharmaceutical products not only at gas stations but also in supermarkets. Such an initiative could significantly expand the network of points of sale for medications, making them even more accessible to the population, particularly in small towns and villages.
At the end of February, the Ukrainian government officially permitted the sale of over-the-counter drugs at gas stations by adopting changes to the licensing conditions for the retail trade of pharmaceuticals. This decision was an important step towards increasing the availability of essential medications for citizens.