Lower medicine price caps fail to stop overcharging at some pharmacies

Although Uzbekistan has lowered the maximum retail prices for nearly 4,500 prescription medicines this year, checks by Kun.uz show that some pharmacies continue to sell certain drugs above the permitted reference prices.

The government introduced lower maximum retail prices in two stages – on March 1 and July 1 – as part of its ongoing effort to make medicines more affordable. However, visits by a Kun.uz correspondent to several pharmacies in Tashkent found that while many outlets comply with the regulations, some continue to charge more than the approved price.

One example was Baktox 125 mg, whose reference price is set at UZS 36,000. One pharmacy was selling the medicine for UZS 35,000, while another offered it for UZS 45,000 – nearly UZS 9,000 above the permitted maximum.

A similar discrepancy was observed for No-Spa. One pharmacy sold the medicine at the official reference price of UZS 142,499, while another charged UZS 7,500 more.

The survey also found that Tivortin, another medicine included in the sample, was priced significantly above the reference price at all three pharmacies visited.

Thousands of medicines receive lower price caps

According to the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry, the first round of price reductions covered nearly 2,000 prescription medicines. The revised prices were approved on December 5, 2025, and took effect on March 1, 2026.

A second round followed under Regulation No. 3537 of the Ministry of Health, reducing the maximum prices for another 2,500 medicines. Those limits became effective for pharmacies on July 1.

Overall, the prices of nearly 4,500 prescription medicines have been reviewed and reduced in 2026. The authorities aim to expand the list to around 6,000 medicines by the end of the year.

Mobile app allows consumers to verify prices and report violations

Ulugbek Ganiyev, chief specialist at the agency, said the PharmUz mobile application now enables consumers to verify the reference price of medicines by scanning the QR code linked to the product's digital label.

In addition to displaying the manufacturer and the medicine's international non-proprietary name, the app shows the officially approved maximum reference price.

"If consumers purchase a medicine at a price higher than the established limit, they can submit a complaint directly through the application. The agency reviews incoming complaints and forwards them to the Competition Committee and the Center for Pharmaceutical Product Safety, which are responsible for taking legal action against pharmacies that violate the rules," Ganiyev said.

He added that pharmacies found selling medicines above the approved reference price are initially issued a warning and fined. Repeat violations may result in the revocation of the pharmacy's license.