The study of problems and prospects of the pharmacy network development in Ukraine in the context of changing approaches to the state regulation in the retail segment of the national pharmaceutical market

Abstract

Objective: Analysis of problems and prospects of the pharmacy network development (pharmacies, branch pharmacies and pharmacy kiosks) in Ukraine. Methods: The historical, comparative, logical, structural, economic and mathematical methods, as well as methods of marketing analysis of the pharmaceutical market were used. Results: It was found that the retail segment of the pharmaceutical market during 2009-2018 had a complex development character. For example, in the period from 2009 to 2014, there was a gradual decrease in the number of pharmacies. In 2014, their number decreased sharply by 20.1% compared to the data of 2009, while in 2015, their number increased slightly by 4.3%. In 2018, the above figure did not return to the data of 2009. The liquidation of pharmacy kiosks led to an increase in the number of pharmacies by 6.69% and branch pharmacies by 8.31% in 2013. Already from 2009 to 2012, there was a sharp decrease in the number of pharmacy kiosks, from 5600 to 2168, i.e. in 2.6 times. The most important positive characteristic of the pharmacy network development was a systematic increase of the share (%) of pharmacies in its structure. Thus, this figure in 2009 amounted to 51.0%, and in 2017-2018 it was already 79.0%. The average number of residents per one pharmacy in Ukraine is 2,145. This indicator is comparable with the similar data obtained in Poland, Belgium, Montenegro, Macedonia, etc. Conclusion: The Ukrainian segment of the pharmaceutical market has demonstrated, on the one hand, a significant dependence on external factors of influence, and, on the other hand, has shown the ability to respond quickly and flexibly to changing conditions of regulation of its activities by the state.