Pharmacy sales in Ukraine for the January–September 2026 period rose by 16.7% in monetary terms compared to the same period in 2025—reaching nearly 186.387 billion UAH, while in volume terms, they fell by 5%, to nearly 802.242 million packages, the company “Business Credit” reported to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing a study it conducted.
According to the report, the weighted average price of the pharmacy basket for the period in question was 232.33 UAH per package, which is 22.91% higher than during the same period a year earlier.
At the same time, pharmacy sales of medicines increased by 23.12% in monetary terms—to more than 152.26 billion UAH—and by 6.34% in volume terms—to nearly 634.961 million packages.
The weighted average retail price of pharmaceuticals for the first nine months of 2026 was 239.79 UAH per package, which is 15.79% higher than in January–September 2025.
At the same time, pharmacy sales of dietary supplements in the first nine months of 2026 increased by 7.5% in monetary terms—to nearly 19.764 billion UAH—while in volume terms they decreased by 17.7%—to 59.913 million packages. The weighted average price in this segment rose by 30.72%—to 329.88 UAH per unit.
Business Credit notes that from January through September 2026, the highest price increases in pharmacy retail were seen in products for parenteral administration of medications (syringes, injection needles, infusion sets/drip sets/transfusion sets, catheters—IF-U), which rose in price by 53.47%.
Overall, according to the company’s data, in the pharmacy retail sector over the first nine months of 2026, sales volumes in monetary terms decreased across all product categories except dietary supplements (+7.5%), therapeutic cosmetics (+21.4%), and mineral water (+4.8%).
At the same time, in volume terms, pharmacy sales increased only in the pharmaceuticals category.
As previously reported, pharmacy sales in Ukraine for the period from January through August 2026 increased by 15.7% in monetary terms compared to the same period in 2025—to more than nearly 162 billion UAH—while in volume terms, they decreased by 5.86%, to nearly 707,313 thousand packages. The weighted average price of items in the pharmacy basket for the period was 229.76 UAH per package, which is 22.88% higher than during the same period a year earlier.
At the same time, pharmacy sales of pharmaceuticals increased by 21.32% in monetary terms—to nearly 132.199 billion UAH—and by 5.13% in volume terms—to nearly 556.962 million packages. The weighted average retail price of medicines for the first eight months of 2026 was 237.36 UAH per package, which is 15% higher than in January–August 2025.
For the full year 2025, pharmacy sales in monetary terms increased by 14.23% compared to 2024—to more than 220.287 billion UAH—while in volume terms, they decreased by 2.25%, to nearly 1.135 million packages. The weighted average price of items in the pharmacy basket was 194.68 UAH per package, which is 16.86% higher than a year earlier. Pharmacy sales of medicines in 2025 increased by 12.79% in monetary terms—to nearly 170.318 billion UAH—while in volume terms, they decreased by 0.2% compared to 2024, to 808.546 million packages. The weighted average retail price of pharmaceuticals at the end of 2025 was 210.65 UAH per package, which is 13% higher than at the end of 2024.
According to Experts.news, an international team of scientists has found that a person’s walking speed and step frequency in daily life are linked to the risk of premature death. An analysis of data from more than 4,000 participants showed that people who walked faster had, on average, a lower risk of death during the subsequent years of follow-up.
The study’s findings were published on October 23, 2026, in the scientific journal JAMA Network Open. The study involved researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the University of Paris-Cité, the University of Leicester, and other academic institutions.
The study was based on the British long-term Whitehall II project. The researchers analyzed data from 4,067 people, whose average age at the start of the study was 69.3 years. Men accounted for 74.4% of the participants, and women for 25.6%.
In 2012–2013, participants underwent walking speed tests over a distance of 2.44 meters and wore wrist-mounted accelerometers to record their daily physical activity.
On average, the devices recorded data for nearly eight days. The researchers assessed not only the number of steps taken but also walking frequency, expressed in steps per minute.
The participants’ average speed during clinical testing was 1.2 meters per second, and the median walking frequency in daily life was 75.3 steps per minute.
Further health follow-up continued for an average of 11.8 years. During this period, 739 people—or 18.2% of the study participants—died.
An increase in walking speed of 0.1 meters per second is associated with a 10% reduction in the risk of death
After adjusting for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, chronic diseases, and other factors, the researchers found a consistent association between walking speed and mortality.
Specifically, an increase in walking speed during the clinical test by 0.1 meters per second corresponded to a reduction in the relative risk of death during the follow-up period of approximately 10%.
When the median walking rate in daily life increased by 10 steps per minute, the corresponding risk was 17% lower.
An even stronger association was observed when analyzing the 95th percentile of step rate, which characterizes relatively fast periods of walking.
An increase in this measure by 10 steps per minute was associated with a reduction in the relative risk of death of approximately 19%.
The authors note that the identified associations persisted even after further adjusting for the total number of steps per day.
Thus, to assess health status, it is potentially important to consider not only the volume of physical activity but also walking pace.
However, the percentage figures identified reflect statistical associations rather than a proven effect of increased walking speed on life expectancy.
“Smart” watches could serve as an additional tool for health assessment
One of the study’s main objectives was to compare two methods of assessing walking: short-term clinical testing and the measurement of daily activity using portable electronic devices.
The researchers found that both methods demonstrated comparable ability to distinguish between participants with higher and lower mortality risk.
However, when all known risk factors were included in the statistical models, only clinical measurement of walking speed provided a statistically significant additional improvement in mortality prediction.
The researchers believe that data from smartwatches and other wearable devices can complement traditional medical examinations, as they allow for the monitoring of a person’s physical activity under normal conditions over the course of several days.
Unlike a brief test at a medical facility, accelerometers record patterns of everyday behavior and can be used to study changes in physical activity.
At the same time, the authors emphasize that clinical walking speed and step frequency, as measured by wearable devices, are not interchangeable indicators.
The authors note a number of limitations to the study. In particular, participants were, on average, healthier than the baseline cohort, and men accounted for nearly three-quarters of the sample.
Furthermore, the study was observational in nature and did not include an experiment in which participants were specifically trained to walk faster.
Therefore, the results do not provide grounds for asserting that a simple increase in walking speed directly reduces mortality by 10–19%.
A higher walking speed may indicate better overall health, physical fitness, and functional capacity.
At the same time, the researchers believe that assessing walking speed could become a useful additional tool for studying the health of older adults.
Further research is needed to implement this approach, particularly involving more diverse populations and independent validation of prognostic models.
The study, titled Clinical Walking Speed, Free-Living Walking Cadence, and All-Cause Mortality, was published in JAMA Network Open on October 23, 2026. The lead author was Rayane Haddadj of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The study was supported by European research programs, specifically Horizon Europe.
Source: JAMA Network Open, original study from October 23, 2026. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.40122.
The Ukrainian full-cycle molecular genetics laboratory “GenCode Diagnostics” invested approximately $1.3 million in the company’s development between 2023 and 2026, including $600,000 this year, according to Oleksandr Vlasyshen, co-founder and CEO of the Ukrainian laboratory “GenCode Diagnostics.”
“We are growing with the ‘gold standard’ in mind and are currently purchasing the latest equipment. Specifically, in 2026, over $500,000 was invested in the acquisition of two state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing systems—the Illumina NextSeq 1000 and the MGI DNBSEQ-G400. Together, they enable the processing of approximately 480 samples for non-invasive prenatal testing in a single full run cycle,” Vlasyshen told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
At the same time, the company is investing in the development of laboratory infrastructure and the training of specialists. Over the company’s three years of operation, approximately $100,000 has been allocated to team training, method validation, and certification.
In light of current challenges, the company has also invested in power equipment.
“Some tests last up to 28 hours. That’s why our system (inverters + batteries + generator) has a 64-hour power reserve,” he said.
In 2027, GenCode Diagnostics plans to complete accreditation under the international ISO 15189 standard, automate DNA extraction and sample preparation processes, and increase NIPT capacity to 1,000 tests per month. In the coming years, the company plans to further expand its equipment fleet, develop oncogenetics and exome sequencing, and create its own bioinformatics platform. The company plans to enter Eastern European markets by 2029.
“The long-term goal by 2030 is to establish a leading national reference center for genetic diagnostics capable of providing a full cycle of modern genetic testing in Ukraine,” Vlasyshen said.
“GeneCode Diagnostics” is a Ukrainian full-cycle molecular genetics laboratory founded in 2023. All tests are performed in accordance with international standards for genetic testing, while complying with Ukrainian and international data protection regulations. The CEO and co-founder is Oleksandr Vlasyshen. According to YouControl, the company’s authorized capital is 8 million UAH, and its net profit in the first half of 2026 was 738,500 UAH.
Ukrainian medical startup CheckEye, which is developing an artificial intelligence system for the early detection of chronic diseases using retinal images, has received a $175,000 award at the international Healthy Longevity Global Competition organized by the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM). The company took second place in the final stage of the competition, NAM reported.
The award ceremony took place in Washington during the international NAM Global Innovator Summit. The Ukrainian team was represented by CheckEye co-founder Viktoriia Chuchyna, who was identified by the organizers as the leader of the competition project.
The Ukrainian company’s development, called AI-Powered Retinal Screening for Early Detection of Chronic Diseases, involves using artificial intelligence to analyze retinal images and identify signs of chronic diseases.
The technology allows examinations to be conducted without complex invasive procedures. According to the company, capturing an image of the fundus takes about three minutes, after which the image is analyzed by a cloud-based platform using artificial intelligence algorithms.
The examination can be conducted in primary healthcare facilities, pharmacies and specialized screening centers without the direct involvement of an ophthalmologist at the image acquisition stage.
Currently, the platform is primarily focused on detecting diabetic retinopathy and signs of vascular diseases, including arterial hypertension. In the future, the developers intend to expand the technology’s capabilities to assess the risks of more than 50 diseases.
According to the project description submitted to the competition organizers, CheckEye has already screened more than 15,000 people in five countries: Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Romania and the United Kingdom.
The company reports that its algorithms achieve a sensitivity of 93–95% in detecting diabetic retinopathy and a specificity of approximately 90%. These figures are presented in the competition documentation and represent the development results claimed by the team.
As part of a pilot program of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, implemented from October 2024 to March 2025 in Odesa and Chernihiv regions, more than 870 patients with diabetes underwent screening. According to the project, approximately one-quarter of the participants were referred for treatment.
The company plans to use the $175,000 received from the competition to scale up the technology and further develop methods for the early diagnosis of chronic diseases.
“It is a great honor for us to represent and promote Ukrainian innovations around the world. This recognition at the global level confirms that our technology has the potential to change the approach to treating chronic diseases — from dealing with their consequences to early prevention,” CheckEye founder and CEO Kyrylo Honcharuk said in a company statement.
According to NAM, 147 applications from participants who had previously received support from the program were considered in the final stage of the Healthy Longevity Global Competition. Fourteen projects became winners in various categories, sharing $2 million in awards.
Two projects received the top prizes of $700,000 each, while two others, including Ukraine’s CheckEye, took second place and received $175,000 each. The third prize amounted to $125,000, and nine other projects received honorable mention awards.
In total, over the seven years of the international program, launched by NAM in 2019, its organizers and partners have supported more than 725 projects with over $38 million in funding. The program covered more than 50 countries and territories.
For CheckEye, the award marked another stage of international recognition. The Ukrainian startup previously received support from EIT Health, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Google for Startups, and also won the EIT Health InnoStars Awards 2024.
According to NAM, the total amount of support attracted by CheckEye before receiving the latest award exceeded $750,000.
CheckEye is a Ukrainian HealthTech company specializing in the development of medical screening technologies using artificial intelligence. Its platform is designed for the early detection of diseases based on retinal image analysis and for expanding access to preventive examinations. The company’s founder and CEO is Kyrylo Honcharuk.
artificial intelligence, CHECKEYE, INNOVATION, MEDICINE, STARTUP, UKRAINE
ADONIS Medical Center launched its sleep lab on October 26, 2026; the facility will specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, according to the medical network’s press office.
The lab offers patients two types of testing: overnight polysomnography in a specially equipped clinic room and at-home sleep studies using portable diagnostic equipment.
Polysomnography allows for a comprehensive assessment of physiological processes during sleep, including sleep structure, breathing, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation levels. During overnight testing at the clinic, medical staff monitor the equipment’s operation and the quality of the recorded data.
According to the medical center, the room for overnight studies is located directly within the clinic’s shelter, which ensures that the examination is not interrupted during air raid alerts.
For at-home testing, the patient receives a portable device and instructions on how to use it. After the procedure is complete, the equipment is returned to the clinic for analysis of the collected data.
A medical report is prepared within 2–3 business days. Afterward, the patient can consult with a neurologist, who will explain the test results and provide recommendations for further treatment.
If necessary, specialists from various fields—including cardiologists, neurologists, endocrinologists, and psychotherapists—will be involved in the diagnosis and treatment.
ADONIS notes that this specialized examination may be relevant for people who experience regular loud snoring, sleep apnea, frequent nighttime awakenings, morning headaches, constant fatigue upon waking, or excessive daytime sleepiness. Such symptoms may indicate, among other things, obstructive sleep apnea.
The opening of the laboratory comes amid a decline in sleep quality among some Ukrainians due to the full-scale war, constant stress, and nighttime air raid alerts.
The ADONIS Sleep Laboratory is located at: Kyiv Oblast, Sofiivska Borshchahivka village, 90 Akademika Shalimova St.
ADONIS is a Ukrainian network of multidisciplinary medical centers for adults and children, founded in Kyiv in 1997. The network provides medical services across numerous specialties, including diagnostics, outpatient care, and surgical treatment. According to the company, its network includes medical centers in Kyiv and the Kyiv region.
According to Experts Club, American researchers have found a link between frequent daytime napping and an increased risk of developing dementia in people aged 65 and older. According to a study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, people who napped almost every day had a 48% higher relative risk of developing dementia compared to those who rarely napped.
The study’s findings were published in the scientific journal The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. The final version of the article was published on October 5, 2026, and on October 13, the university released a separate press release announcing the results.
The study included 995 Americans aged 65 and older who were covered by Medicare. At the start of the study in 2013, none of the participants showed signs of probable or possible dementia according to the classification used by the researchers.
The researchers followed the participants for up to ten years, using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationwide study on aging. They analyzed not only the duration of nighttime sleep but also the frequency of daytime naps, their duration, and the circumstances under which participants fell asleep.
The researchers paid particular attention to the difference between planned daytime naps and instances when a person fell asleep involuntarily, such as while watching TV, reading, or relaxing in a chair.
According to the results of the statistical analysis, frequent daytime napping was associated with a 48% increase in the relative risk of dementia, while unplanned falling asleep was associated with a 39% increase.
In their analysis, the researchers accounted for age, gender, education, the presence of chronic diseases, body mass index, symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as characteristics of nighttime sleep and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
The association remained significant even after adjusting for these factors, suggesting a potential independent role of daytime napping patterns as an indicator of risk for cognitive impairment.
The researchers also found that daytime naps lasting up to 30 minutes were associated with a 40% increase in the relative risk of dementia. At the same time, for naps lasting more than 30 minutes, the statistical association weakened after accounting for characteristics of nighttime sleep.
However, irregular or intentionally scheduled daytime naps did not show a statistically significant increase in risk after adjusting for all major factors.
Overall, during the follow-up period, 417 participants—or 41.9% of the sample—showed signs of possible or probable dementia. Among people who did not nap during the day, this outcome was observed in 37.8%, and among those who regularly napped during the day, in 51.1%. However, the duration of follow-up varied across the different groups, so these percentages should not be interpreted as a direct predictor of individual risk.
In addition to dementia, the researchers found a link between frequent daytime napping and subsequent deterioration in memory and certain executive brain functions, particularly the ability to plan and control complex actions.
However, the researchers emphasize that the results do not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between daytime napping and dementia.
“More frequent daytime napping may be a sign of changes in the brain, rather than the cause of the changes that lead to dementia,” noted the study’s senior author, Adam Spira, a professor in the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins University.
According to the researchers, neurodegenerative processes can begin long before the onset of clinical symptoms of dementia. Among the first areas to change may be those parts of the brain that regulate wakefulness and sleep. As a result, a person may fall asleep more often during the day even before a diagnosis is made.
To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted an additional analysis, excluding cases of dementia identified during the first five years of follow-up. The association between frequent daytime napping and the subsequent development of dementia persisted. For unplanned sleep episodes, the direction of the association also remained similar, although the statistical uncertainty of the result increased.
The study’s first author, Kenin Jiang, noted that monitoring changes in daytime sleep could be a relatively simple way to identify people at increased risk of dementia early on.
Researchers believe that doctors should pay attention not only to patients’ complaints about nighttime sleep but also to an increase in the frequency of daytime sleepiness, especially if such changes occur for no apparent reason.
At the same time, the authors caution against drawing hasty practical conclusions. The study was observational in nature: the researchers did not alter the participants’ sleep patterns and did not test whether avoiding daytime naps could prevent dementia.
Furthermore, information about daytime napping was collected primarily from the participants themselves, and signs of dementia were identified using a validated algorithm rather than through clinical diagnosis of each individual case.
Therefore, the results do not mean that a short daytime nap is inherently harmful to the brain or that it should be avoided. Instead, new or increasingly frequent episodes of involuntary sleepiness in older adults may be a reason to discuss their health, the quality of their nighttime sleep, and possible cognitive changes with a doctor.
To definitively establish a causal link, additional long-term studies are needed that objectively measure sleep using specialized devices.
Johns Hopkins University, founded in 1876 in Baltimore, is one of the leading research universities in the United States. Its Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, founded in 1916, specializes in epidemiology, disease prevention, mental health, population aging, and the study of risk factors for chronic diseases. The study on daytime napping and dementia was conducted with partial funding from the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
Sources: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, press release dated October 13, 2026; original research article in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glag208.
