On October 19–21 of this year, a Ukrainian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Health Yevhen Gonchar paid a working visit to Uzbekistan. The delegation also included Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment Vitaliy Petruk, Chairman of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine Ruslan Illichov, and representatives of pharmaceutical companies.
During talks with representatives of the Uzbek Ministry of Health and relevant agencies, the parties exchanged experiences in the areas of healthcare provision, drug reimbursement, public procurement, and improving access to medicines. Particular attention was paid to expanding the supply of Ukrainian pharmaceutical products, localizing production, and attracting investment.
A key issue was the simplification of GMP inspections of Ukrainian enterprises. Starting January 1, 2026, a national GMP certificate will be required for the registration of medicines and the renewal of registration certificates in Uzbekistan. At the same time, conducting inspections directly at Ukrainian production sites is complicated by the ongoing war. The Ukrainian side proposed allowing remote or hybrid inspections and temporarily extending the validity of existing certificates. Uzbekistan expressed its readiness to help resolve this issue, in particular by preparing legislative amendments that would provide for the possibility of remote inspections.
On October 21, the Uzbekistan Center for Pharmaceutical Product Safety and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health signed a memorandum on regulatory cooperation in the field of medicines and medical devices. The document provides for the exchange of information, expertise, and practical experience to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of medical products.
On the economic front, Vitaliy Petruk, Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment of Ukraine, and Akram Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, discussed the expansion of trade, economic, and investment ties, as well as the prospects for resuming the regular work of the intergovernmental commission.
The Ukrainian delegation visited the Tashkent Pharma Park pharmaceutical cluster, familiarized itself with its research and production infrastructure and opportunities for investors, and toured the production site of the Ukrainian company “Lekhim” in Uzbekistan. The cost of the company’s production complex project is estimated at 42.5 million U.S. dollars.
