Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 3 June, during the IV International Pharmaceutical Forum in Tashkent, representatives of AstraZeneca proposed the creation of an interagency working group to address the grey market of pharmaceuticals in Uzbekistan. The discussion focused on the fight against counterfeit medicines and the development of integrated diagnostic solutions.

Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical sector is one of the fastest-growing in Central Asia. However, the health system urgently needs innovative tools to ensure the safe and efficient development of modern medical technologies. A major obstacle is the persistent presence of counterfeit and smuggled medicines on the market.

AstraZeneca emphasized that tackling this issue requires a reliable regulatory framework and stronger interagency cooperation. They proposed forming a working group to develop practical measures to combat the grey market and protect public health.

Fyodor Novikov, Head of Frontier Markets for AstraZeneca Russia & Eurasia, noted: “Uzbekistan is a key market for AstraZeneca. Beyond product supply, we are committed to long-term projects in oncology and chronic non-communicable diseases. Our goal is to help build an ecosystem that includes diagnostics, patient pathways, and medical education — enabling early detection and access to original treatments.”

AstraZeneca highlighted that despite increasing investment in healthcare innovation, the current lack of regulatory clarity allows low-quality and unauthorized medicines to enter the market. This undermines trust, deters investment, and creates a paradox: the more patients are diagnosed, the more demand arises for cheaper, unregulated products.

Alexey Teteriuk, Government Affairs and Market Access Manager at AstraZeneca, added: “Illegally imported drugs pose a serious health threat and reduce market attractiveness for responsible companies. Without proper enforcement and regulatory alignment, innovative producers have little incentive to invest in new therapies, diagnostics, and physician training programs.”

He stressed the need for legal clarity on issues such as parallel imports, tighter post-marketing surveillance (including mystery shopper campaigns), and stronger administrative and criminal penalties for illegal trade. He also urged rapid response mechanisms for repeated violations and closer cooperation between the government and industry to update relevant legislation.

The IV International Pharmaceutical Forum in Uzbekistan, held from 3–4 June in Tashkent, brings together top managers from leading producers and distributors, regulators, tech providers, legal experts, and consultants to foster strategic dialogue and business development.