Due to the new regulation of pharmacists, the budget may lose 8 billion

The introduction of state regulation of drug prices, which provides poor limitations of margins, can result in billions of budget losses and creates a threat to a lack of drugs. It was written by economic blogger Sergey Lametz on Facebook on Monday, February 17.

According to his calculations, due to innovations, including limiting 8% margins for shares and the removal of marketing agreements between manufacturers and pharmaceutical networks, the budget will not receive of at least 7.7-8 billion UAH of tax revenues annually.

“According to my resources, we are talking about at least 7.7 billion UAH per year so -called undivided taxes. Where the numbers come from. I will say more, the payment of the taxes of taxes is growing annually in 2024 by 2023, as a whole, according to my sources, all the retail chains of drugs in 2024 paid taxes for 7.6 billion UAH. has written.

According to him, both a pharmacist and wholesale pharmacist will disappear.

“The traditional greater income will replace the limited margin of the drug, and 20% of VAT will also replace the rate of 7%. That is, the amount by which taxes are paid, and the tax percentage itself. I -Multiply the above restrictions by UAH 200 billion – and gets a significant decrease in tax fees, ”Lamets said.

In addition, manufacturers and imports are always invested in marketing services to promote retail goods. However, due to KMU resolution, these investments are prohibited, that is, nor do they pay 20% of VAT. According to the expert, more than that, tax revenues from the trading retail will decrease by 70%, which is fully numbered approximately 5.3 billion UAH per year.

“The wholesale also received a” order “from the Ministers’ cabinet – to meet 8% of the margin. In fact, their margin will decrease a quarter and will be limited by 2.4 billion UAH.

He warned that removal of marketing transactions, which had previously provided discounts on drugs, would create risks of losses in pharmaceutical networks, reduction of staff and a general fall in the drug assortment.

The expert warns that the restriction of the competition will inevitably lead to a lack of drugs and a further increase in drugs.

“Any administrative intervention on the market ends with rising prices. As a result of market adhesion, the market is usually focused on the hands of the largest players. Concentration means an increase in market strength. In addition, the increasing prices in one way or another.

At the same time, Lamets recalled that removal of marketing agreements is contrary to European practice, where such agreements are a standard tool for retail. Lamets believe that instead of administrative restrictions, it is worth developing a price regulation mechanism in conjunction with market participants.

Remember, on February 5, President Vladimir Zelensky criticized the situation in the drug market and held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on this issue. One week later, the head of the state signed a mandate in additional steps to ensure the presence of drugs for the Ukrainians.

On February 14, the government has limited the maximum trading margin for pharmacies of no more than 35% for over -counters and set a regressive scale for the prescription. Suppliers can add no more than 8% to wholesale prices, depending on the cost of the drug.