Business news

MINSK, 12 October (BelTA) - About 27% of Belarusian medicines is exported, Deputy Director General of the Management Company of Belpharmprom Holding Company Viktor Shein told the media, BelTA has learned.

“About 27% of medicines produced in Belarus is exported. Belpharmprom companies have this figure at 40%,” Viktor Shein said.

The goal is to increase the share of Belarusian-made medicines on the domestic market to 55% by 2020. The export is expected to reach 40% of pharmaceutical output. According to Viktor Shein, such high rates can be achieved only by consolidating the efforts of all pharmaceutical companies both in terms of manufacturing and sale promotion on the domestic and foreign markets.

The holding company for pharmaceutical industry companies was officially launched on 1 September. At the moment it consists of six companies, which were previously affiliated with the the department for pharmaceutical industry and the research organization Lotus. The holding company aims to integrate all organizations in the country with a license to manufacture medicines. Viktor Shein reported that the negotiations have been held with all pharmaceutical companies. They have all been sent relevant draft instruments allowing them to enter the holding company on certain terms.

“We are ready to give access for our partners that have not yet made part of the holding company to our platforms to help them promote products outside the country more efficiently,” Viktor Shein said.

Belarusian medicines are exported to more than 30 countries. Mainly these are the CIS member states. Geography of deliveries is expanding into South-East Asia and Africa. “We have made trial shipments and gaining a foothold in the markets of the European Union through the certification of our manufactures for the compliance with the GMP standards,” Viktor Shein said. At the moment four enterprises have certificates of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PIC/S). Belmedpreparaty company has a Romanian pharmaceutical inspection certificate that opens up the opportunity to ship products to EU countries. Negotiations are underway on extending the reach into South America.

Some 4,500 medicines have been registered in Belarus, of them 1,500 are locally produced.

In January-September, the share of Belarusian medicines on the domestic market in financial terms made up 55%. The share of Belarusian medicines in Belarusian healthcare institutions varies from 70% to 90%. According to Viktor Shein, this success has been achieved thanks to the efforts of all companies regardless of their form of ownership and departmental affiliation.