Kazakhstan faces medicine shortages after forcing price cuts
March 17, 2021, 11:50 am

Kazakhstan faces medicine shortages after forcing price cuts

A healthcare worker gives a COVID-19 test to a medical staff near Halyk Arena in Almaty, on July 5, 2020. (AFP)

Kazakhstan faces shortages of essential medicines such as aspirin after the Central Asian nation’s government tried to pressure drug makers and distributors into cutting prices, industry sources say.

The cabinet attempted to ensure drugs used to treat COVID-19 are sold with minimal mark-up, but producers say the effort has backfired and is also affecting medicines used to treat other ailments.

The former Soviet republic has been regulating drug prices since 2019, imposing limits on logistics and marketing expenses and mark-ups as a proportion of ex-works prices.

In January, the government published a list of what it described as “anti-COVID” drugs on which it further tightened margins, resulting in the permitted retail sale price falling by 40 percent on average.

But the list included a number of medicines unrelated to COVID-19 treatment and the move gave importers and distributors no time to sell off inventory purchased at higher prices, says Arminas Macevicius, CIS director at pharmaceutical company Stada.

“The market usually has 2-3 months worth of inventories, meaning that drugstores and distributors had large stocks which had to be sold at lower prices, incurring losses,” he said.

The “anti-COVID” list was so broad that it included medicines such as eye drops, aspirin and Cardiomagnyl, a popular drug used for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

As a result, Cardiomagnyl has already disappeared from most pharmacies. And while producers have helped distributors offset losses on their purchases, they are not willing to provide further supplies at a loss, said another pharmaceuticals executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s healthcare ministry has moved to extend the price cuts to all medicines registered locally by sharply reducing marketing allowances.

Drugmakers have appealed to the government, saying the new regulations are counterproductive, but have so far failed to have them reviewed.

A spokeswoman for the ministry said it was working on the matter and would announce new measures soon.

source: Reuters

Image source: AFP

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.