Uzbekistan opens pharmacies to online marketplace orders

Uzbekistan is moving toward a significant integration of the pharmaceutical sector into its rapidly growing e-commerce landscape. Under a new presidential decree aimed at modernizing the digital economy, pharmacies and specialized networks across the country will soon be permitted to operate as pickup points for online marketplace orders.

Photo: Spot

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved a comprehensive roadmap for the development of electronic commerce, setting ambitious targets for the end of the decade. By 2030, the government aims to increase the annual volume of online trade in Uzbekistan to UZS 30 trillion. This expansion is expected to generate more than 7,500 new jobs and attract approximately $300 million in investment projects within the sector.

A central component of this strategy involves the pharmaceutical industry. The National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has been tasked with developing concrete proposals by mid-July to implement online trading systems within pharmacy networks. This initiative includes a requirement for pharmacies to establish dedicated pickup zones for medications and other health-related products purchased via digital marketplaces.

To ensure public safety and maintain the integrity of medical products, the decree also mandates the establishment of rigorous standards for courier services handling pharmaceutical goods. New regulations will strictly prohibit delivery personnel from opening or tampering with original medication packaging. Furthermore, the transportation of specific drugs that require climate control must be conducted using certified thermal containers to ensure a stable temperature throughout the delivery process.