In 2018, Uzbekistan imported nearly 50 bln RUB worth of ready-made pharmaceuticals (CIP prices), which is in monetary terms (RUB) 3.9% higher than that in 2017. Despite the relatively low dynamics in monetary terms, the dynamics in physical terms are surprisingly high, +18%, and that was not due to changes in dosage forms. If calculated in minimum dosage units (MDU), the dynamics are +22.4%.

The import structure has changed, though. In 2018, Uzbekistan imported as little as 38 mln RUB worth of in-bulk drugs (CIP prices), against 1.5 bln RUB in 2017 (-97%). The in-bulk importers were mostly Chinese (Reyoung Pharmaceutical, Remedy Group, etc.) and Indian (East African Overseas, Ultra Laboratories, etc.). After Uzbekistan stopped importing in-bulk drugs, the import of those drugs in a ready-made form increased. However, the dynamics of the ready-made import are still way higher than what was left after the country stopped the in-bulk import.

At the moment, most ready-made pharmaceuticals are imported to Uzbekistan from India (nearly 22% of the import in monetary terms); in 2018, 126 companies imported from India. Over the year, the import from India has significantly changed, by 4% in monetary terms. Among the companies with the lowest dynamics, Marion Biotech and Kusum Healthcare have the highest drops, -66% and -37%, respectively.

India is followed by Russia, which has increased its import in monetary terms by 14%. 67 companies import from Russia, and while the number of the companies has not changed much, the top companies have. Kraspharma has become the leader, with nearly 10% of the total import from Russia to Uzbekistan against 0.2% in 2018. Their import has increased by 52 times in monetary terms (RUB). Kraspharma is followed by Feron (7.3%) and Pharmstandard (6.9%). Uzbekistan is usually one of the biggest directions for Russian pharmaceutical manufacturers; in 2018, Uzbekistan came second after Ukraine, but could have been higher. As early as in 2016 the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan even appealed to the Russia Ministry of Trade with a request to help organize the import of a number of pharmaceutical drugs and medical products. However, the importers were very few, and in 2017, the pharmaceutical drug import from Russia to Uzbekistan has dropped by nearly 6% monetary terms (RUB). At that time, the region faced a severe economic crisis and devaluation of the national currency (Uzbek soum). The import became more active only in 2018, when the economic situation more or less stabilized.

Fig 1. Volume of dynamics of pharmaceutical drug import to Uzbekistan

Tab. Top 15 countries importing pharmaceutical drug to Uzbekistan