Lower medicine price caps fail to stop overcharging at some pharmacies.
Although Uzbekistan has lowered the maximum retail prices for nearly 4,500 prescription medicines this year, checks by Kun.uz show that some pharmacies continue to sell certain drugs above the permitted reference prices..
Despite Uzbekistan's efforts to lower maximum retail prices for nearly 4,500 prescription medications this year, investigations by Kun.uz reveal that some pharmacies are still charging above the allowed reference prices.
The government implemented these price reductions in two phases—on March 1 and July 1—as part of its initiative to enhance the affordability of medicines. However, a Kun.uz reporter's visits to various pharmacies in Tashkent indicated that while many establishments adhere to the new regulations, some are still pricing certain drugs above the authorized rates.
For instance, Baktox 125 mg has a reference price of UZS 36,000. One pharmacy was selling it for UZS 35,000, while another charged UZS 45,000, which is nearly UZS 9,000 over the maximum allowed price.
A similar situation was noted with No-Spa, where one pharmacy sold it at the official reference price of UZS 142,499, while another charged UZS 7,500 more.
The survey also revealed that Tivortin, another medication included in the review, was priced significantly higher than the reference price at all three pharmacies visited.
Thousands of medications have received reduced price caps
As reported by the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry, the initial round of price cuts affected nearly 2,000 prescription medications. These revised prices were approved on December 5, 2025, and took effect on March 1, 2026.
A subsequent round, under Regulation No. 3537 from the Ministry of Health, reduced maximum prices for an additional 2,500 medications, with these limits becoming effective for pharmacies on July 1.
In total, the prices of nearly 4,500 prescription medications have been reviewed and lowered in 2026, with plans to expand the list to approximately 6,000 medications by the year's end.
Mobile app enables consumers to check prices and report violations
Ulugbek Ganiyev, a chief specialist at the agency, stated that the PharmUz mobile application now allows consumers to verify the reference price of medications by scanning the QR code associated with the product's digital label.
The app not only displays the manufacturer and the medicine's international non-proprietary name but also shows the officially approved maximum reference price.
"If consumers buy a medication at a price exceeding the established limit, they can file a complaint directly through the application. The agency reviews these complaints and forwards them to the Competition Committee and the Center for Pharmaceutical Product Safety, which are responsible for taking legal action against pharmacies that breach the regulations," Ganiyev explained.
He noted that pharmacies found to be selling medications above the approved reference price will initially receive a warning and a fine. Repeated violations could lead to the revocation of the pharmacy's license.