Maximum prices for 2,500 prescription drugs reduced in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — New maximum price ceilings for 2,500 prescription pharmaceutical products entered into force in Uzbekistan on 1 July 2026. The Agency for the Development of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry announced the update.

According to Anvarkhon Akabirov, the press secretary for the agency, reference prices for a range of medicines have been revised. As a result, the cost of antibiotics and antimicrobials has been lowered by up to 50.1%, cardiovascular medications by up to 37%, nervous system drugs by up to 40%, and anti-inflammatory and pain-relief medicines by up to 42%.

The agency emphasized that starting from 1 July, the sale of these medications at previously effective reference prices is not permitted. Electronic invoices issued at prices exceeding the established maximum thresholds will be automatically detected by the information systems of the Tax Committee, and their registration will be restricted.

As noted by the department, state regulation of pharmaceutical prices is aimed at preventing unjustified increases in the cost of medicines and ensuring transparency across the pharmaceutical market.

International practices are applied when calculating reference prices: the framework accounts for the average cost of drugs in nations included in the register of reference states, prices in the manufacturing country, alongside contract prices for medicines imported into Uzbekistan over the past year.

Information regarding the maximum prices for prescription drugs has been published on the official portal of the Agency. Citizens can verify the maximum permissible cost of medicines using the PharmUz mobile application, which allows users to compare the established reference price ceiling with the actual retail price at a pharmacy.

Currently, approximately 80% of pharmaceutical products sold in Uzbekistan are imported. Due to this, a reference pricing mechanism based on an analysis of their costs in foreign countries applies to prescription medications. Under current regulations, pharmacies are prohibited from selling these drugs at prices exceeding the established maximum levels.

Earlier, the head of the agency, Abdulla Azizov, reported on work to revise reference prices for prescription drugs, as well as plans to phase out the reference pricing mechanism for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.

According to the department, about 8,000 prescription drugs are sold in the country, and maximum permissible retail prices are being determined for each of them in stages.