The fight against counterfeit drug circulation in Uzbekistan will be sharply intensified.
Over the past year, more than 57,000 counterfeit medicines have been identified, and the import of 21 types of foreign medicines into Uzbekistan has been stopped.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev gave specific instructions to officials at a videoconference meeting on March 5 dedicated to developing the pharmaceutical sector and strengthening the fight against the circulation of substandard medicines.
The head of state emphasized that a tough fight should be waged against the illegal circulation of medicines, similar to the strict measures being taken against narcotic and psychotropic substances. It was noted that over the past year, more than 57 thousand unregistered counterfeit medicines were identified, and as a result, 21 reputable foreign companies have stopped supplying their medicines to Uzbekistan.
The President also stressed the importance of developing a new draft law to increase liability for the trade of substandard and counterfeit medicines.
The meeting also reviewed the scientific potential in the pharmaceutical sector. Currently, more than 300 scientists are working at 6 research institutes, and about 1,000 young people graduate from pharmaceutical universities annually. At the same time, the problem of the disconnect between industry and science was noted.
In this regard, a National Bio-Pharmaceutical Research Institute will be established on the basis of the Chemical-Pharmaceutical, Vaccine and Serum, and Eastern Medicine Institutes. The institute will be located in the Tashkent Pharma Park area and will provide scientists with opportunities for scientific work through preclinical, bio, and chemical laboratories, as well as a 250-seat international clinical research center.
President Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to continue work on modernizing the pharmaceutical sector and attracting foreign investment.
