The analysis of dynamics of physical accessibility of pharmaceutical aid in Ukraine

Abstract

The level of development of the country's health care system can be assessed in different ways, in particular by the level of pharmaceutical aid provision to the population. The quality of pharmaceutical aid for the population depends on many factors, including physical accessibility and the number of pharmacies located in a certain area. The aim of the work was to study the dynamics of changes in the physical accessibility of pharmaceutical aid provision for the population and changes in the number of pharmacies in Ukraine during 2017–2022. Annual reports of the State Service of Ukraine for medicinal products and drug control, regarding licensees in the field of economic activity in the production of medicines, wholesale and retail trade of medicinal products, circulation of drugs have been used for the analysis of dynamics. It was established that the pandemic of the coronavirus disease, which was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) coronavirus, and the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation had a significant impact on the development of the pharmaceutical market in Ukraine according to the results of the study. There is a general tendency to decrease the number of economic entities conducting their activities in the retail trade of medicines, while simultaneous increasing the places of activity, which may indicate the globalization of the pharmaceutical market. However, it can also cause a reduction in the quality of the competitive environment and limit the choice of pharmaceutical aid providers by patients. Thus, in the studied period, the number of economic entities decreased by more than 1,400. The number of pharmaceutical establishments engaged in the compounding of medicinal products also decreased significantly, by 23.5%. The total number of economic entities engaged in activities related to the circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors also decreased significantly, which definitely worsened the physical availability of this group of drugs.