Leu Marholin: Importers to stop buying medicines by January 15

Unlike television sets, fridges and building materials, medicines cannot wait.

The website of Nasha Niva newspaper published an article about a possible halt in supplies of imported pharmaceutical drugs due to a 30% duty on purchasing foreign currency and a restriction concerning markups on pharmaceutical products.

“All importers will stop buying medicines at least until January 15,” economist Leu Marholin said to ucpb.org. “Unlike televisions, fridges and building materials, medicines cannot wait. So, we can expect amendments to the presidential decree. It is not ruled out that the government will find other groups of goods vital for the country.

This fact shows that despite statements by the authorities, prices of foreign medicines will go up at least 30% after January 15. Prices of other goods and services will grow at least 10-15% in the nearest two or three months. Actually, they will grow even higher, because we have such an unpleasant thing as devaluation expectations caused by the irresponsible policy of the government and the National Bank.”