In the early days of the war, queues began to line up in pharmacies. Due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation, Ukrainians were forced to make a strategic supply of not only water and food, but also medicines. This is especially true for patients with chronic diseases..

Thus, on the first day of the war, according to the analytical market research system PharmXplorer/Pharmstandard of Proxima Research, pharmacy sales of medicines more than doubled compared to the same day last year and continued to grow at a high pace in the first 11 days of the war..

Medicines for the treatment of arterial hypertension, anti-inflammatory and anti-cold drugs, analgesics and antibiotics, drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus were in the greatest demand during this period.. Actively bought up psycholeptics, antiseptics and disinfectants. Volumes of pharmacy sales of hemostatic agents increased several times. And drug balances were rapidly shrinking as there were supply issues..

Now sales are declining. Compared to the same period last year, the figures are even lower. However, this is often not due to a decrease in demand, but to a limited number of working pharmacies, their working hours, limited supplies, and also to the fact that the population has already made a certain supply of medicines.. In addition, more than three million Ukrainians were forced to move outside the country in search of a safe place to live..

For the period of martial law, the Ministry of Health allowed to involve nurses, doctors, pharmacists and students of the last years of study in pharmacies and other medical institutions. And many pharmacies that stopped working in the first days of the war, including due to a lack of staff, are reopening. Employees of the 911 and Good Day pharmacy chains suffered from shelling at their workplaces while performing their duties. However, despite the danger, pharmacists are ready to help others.

Gradually the situation is stabilizing. After a couple of weeks, when the initial shock had passed, documents began to appear that make it easier to operate in wartime, including pharmacies. The conditions for importing, obtaining licenses, importing medicines registered for other markets were simplified. However, many problems remain.

For some positions of medicines, the situation with residues is still critical. For example, with remnants of drugs to lower blood pressure, separate positions of insulins, sedatives and iodine preparations. The threat of Putin's use of nuclear weapons provoked a desire for affordable protection - iodine.

On March 25, a new batch of levothyroxine (a drug used for thyroid therapy) began to arrive in the pharmacy institutions of Ukraine - more than 213 thousand. packages of the drug L-thyroxine from Berlin-Chemie. In addition, distributors from the warehouses of the domestic company ASINO deliver to pharmacies the drug Euthyrox, which also contains the active ingredient levothyroxine.. But the deficit is not closed yet.

ZN. UA has collected proposals from representatives of the largest pharmacy chains operating in Ukraine on how to set up work and eliminate the shortage of medicines and medical devices in the country.

Order No. 384 dated 26. 02. 22 The Ministry of Health introduced the procedure for emergency registration of medicines; allowed circulation of medicines registered in Ukraine labeled for other markets. However, obtaining import licenses today slows down the State Service. The existing complicated procedure has not been changed. At the same time, some importers have relocated their warehouses to Western Ukraine, but cannot import. Under martial law, it is advisable to allow direct contracts not only with manufacturers, but also with distributors of manufacturers in other territories. The procedure for obtaining a license in the Ministry of Economy on a declarative basis does not work, as there is no feedback. No manufacturer or distributor will dispense drugs to an unlicensed entity. That is, there must be a permit document with the details, number, date, address of the activity.

There is a big problem with logistics. If earlier distributors delivered the assortment to pharmacies, today the standard conditions for chains are - come and pick it up. Warehouse opens and orders are completed. Even small networks are looking for transport to come, complete the delivery, and then deliver it to their pharmacies. Distributors work only on prepaid. Delivery time - about seven days. But not the fact that ordered today will be available on the day of shipment..

We also need logistics from Ukraine - the ability to pick up goods at customs warehouses from neighboring countries. Many foreign carriers do not want to go to Ukraine for fear of falling under shelling, and are looking for those who will agree to cross the territory of our country.

Simplify the requirements for premises and return to the system of pharmacy kiosks - points for dispensing medicines from basic pharmacies that would work according to a certain schedule and could sell vital medicines in areas where there are few or the vast majority of pharmacies are closed (as, for example, on Sofiyivska Borshchagovka in Kyiv).

There is a problem of assortment washing out, also associated with volunteering, when the same assortment is taken from pharmacies according to the lists. Representatives of pharmacy chains offer the State Service for Drugs to coordinate with at least one volunteer organization that would deliver medicines to vulnerable categories of the population through certain pharmacies. The target order and information about it in the State Service for Medicines will simplify the process.

By order of the Ministry of Health No. 366 dated February 25, 2022 " Medicinal products included in previous registries are subject to compensation.

Representatives of pharmacy chains propose to maximize the expansion of the “Accessible Faces” program with vital drugs and those that are mainly used by vulnerable segments of the population. For example, hormones and antihormones; antiparkinsonian drugs. This would allow pharmacies to dispense these medicines faster, and would be a help to vulnerable populations..

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According to the mentioned study, the prices in pharmacies for the top 10 brand names of medicines increased by 14% compared to pre-war. However, this is the general temperature in the ward. Some pharmacy chains raised prices more, others less..

Some were extremely insured, not understanding how much the dollar and the euro would cost tomorrow. Others pawned their risks to a lesser degree, remaining merciful and understanding the situation.. When the state chooses with whom to cooperate, when it determines activity and participation, it, like ordinary Ukrainians, must monitor these prices.

So that everyone understands which of the owners of pharmacy chains should be thanked, and who should wish to buy analgin in ampoules of 300 hryvnias all their lives, we publish our infographics.