Why Are Medicines Expensive in Armenia? An Insight from Avanesyan

The Minister of Health, Anahit Avanesyan, has addressed the issue of the high cost of medicines in Armenia. According to her, there is a VAT on medicines in the country that is higher than in Georgia. “Armenia is a small market, and the pricing policies of pharmaceutical companies in this market differ from those in larger markets. There are several factors that contribute to the increase in prices for certain medicines,” she stated.

The minister also mentioned that the implementation of a mandatory insurance system will affect drug prices, allowing for their procurement at much more affordable, competitive prices, resulting in lower costs for both the government and citizens.

Avanesyan further noted that the registration fees for medicines in Armenia were revised and reduced three years ago. “I don’t expect any changes in the near future,” Avanesyan said.