Deputy Slams Kazakhstan’s Domestic Pharmaceutical Industry
Photo: freepik, illustrative purposes
Majilis Deputy Askhat Aimagambetov has sharply criticized the state of domestic pharmaceutical production in Kazakhstan, Orda.kz reports.
Despite the president’s target of raising the share of locally produced medicines and medical devices to 50% by 2025, current figures fall well short. In 2024, domestic production accounted for only 15.7%.
“We are drowning in a sea of imports. 84% of medicines are imported from abroad,” Aimagambetov said during a plenary session.
Out of 89 officially registered domestic manufacturers, the deputy noted that only 2% produce medicinal products, while the rest manufacture items like masks and syringes.
“At this pace and level of work, it is impossible to achieve the set goal by the end of the year.”
He pointed out that the state provides substantial support to producers through subsidies, preferential loans, tax incentives, customs exemptions, and guaranteed procurement.
Domestic pharmaceutical industry and science: are billions going into illusion? With such support, what return do we get? Most often, instead of producing new drugs, we see imported substances, simply poured into beautiful bottles. Even paper and glass are purchased abroad. Isn't it time to look behind the scenes and understand what is actually poured into our bottles?
he asked.
Aimagambetov also raised concerns about pharmaceutical research and innovation.
Apart from QazVac, we can say that nothing else has appeared. There are very few clinical studies. Over the past 10 years, only two drugs have been developed. One of them is iodine and potassium iodide. 4–6 billion tenge were spent on its development, but it is not even included in the formulary. That is, it is not used.
He added that the National Center for Expertise of Medicines lacks the necessary competence to properly oversee clinical trials.
“That’s why we can’t fully conduct clinical trials; there are no special scientific grants, and there’s no point in even talking about the commercialization of private investment in this area.”
Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova
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