OREANDA-NEWS. The Government will severely punish the pharmaceutical companies for price increase after the introduction of reference pricing from 1 January 2017. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during a meeting of the Government on Wednesday.

The Head of Government reminded that from January 1 there will be launched the system of reference pricing system for medicines against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes type II and asthma, which should ensure lower prices for drugs in these three categories.

"It is crucial to ensure overall control, to monitor in order to maximally implement this decision. We must respond firmly in cases when networks, wholesalers don’t abide by the decision, we must punish them severely. In fact, we will restore justice for the Ukrainian citizens, as to drive up prices for medicines means to demonstrate disrespect to Ukrainians", said Volodymyr Groysman.