OREANDA-NEWS. Nikolay Bespalov, Development Director of RNC Pharma, confirmed the data of a study by Promsvyazbank (PSB) on the increase in drug prices. According to him, by the end of the year, the increase will be at least 8-9%. If something changes in the macroeconomic situation, then the price growth may be higher.

«The fact that there will be a price increase is an absolutely accurate fact, as well as the fact that it will exceed inflation», he said in a conversation with Russian media NEWS.ru.

The specialist added that prices change approximately the same for all medicines. The only exceptions are drugs that are included in the list of vital and most important, since their cost is regulated by the state. According to Bespalov, it is simply physically impossible to increase prices in this sector.

The expert also listed the factors contributing to the rise in price. First, the coronavirus pandemic has increased the demand for individual medicines. The expert notes that this happened not only in Russia, but also around the world.

Secondly, the serious dependence of the Russian market on imported supplies of raw materials, auxiliary substances and equipment has an impact on the prices of drugs. Thus, in the conditions of unstable macroeconomics, any fluctuations in the foreign exchange market lead to an increase in the prices of contracts and pharmaceutical products themselves.

Third, the cost is changing due to the introduction of a labeling system. This procedure requires costs from manufacturers and other participants in the commodity and logistics chain. The costs of labeling in one form or another are included in the price tag, and ultimately «we pay for it out of our own pocket», the expert recalled.