Spike in demand for medications fully satisfied by Belarusian drugstores

Demand for medications soared in the last few weeks but has been fully satisfied since then, BelTA learned from Belarusian Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich.

The official agreed that Belarusians can experience fear about shortages of various medications due to Western sanctions. The situation witnessed in the last two weeks may be described as a demand spike without going as far as panic buying. Belarusian drugstores reported a 25% increase in sales in this period. “We've fully satisfied the demand,” the healthcare minister said.

There are no shortages in Belarusian drugstores, the official made it clear.

Dmitry Pinevich went on saying that they had discussed shipments with suppliers of foreign medications and none of them had refused to supply specified medications to Belarus.

There can be certain problems with payments for and deliveries of medications, the healthcare minister admitted. At the same time the Healthcare Ministry expects no disruptions in medication shipments.

Dmitry Pinevich noted: “The healthcare system has been working in conditions of the coronavirus infection for the last two years. Our manufacturers and suppliers of medications work bearing in mind an increased demand for medications. We saw no problems in the past. It is good that we are mobilized. By the way, our manufacturers had some stock in storage even before the pandemic and we were accumulating some medications. The carryover inventory varied from three to six months at least.”

A session of the council of the holding company Belpharmprom took place in Minsk on 12 March. During the session specialists discussed the performance of the holding company's enterprises in 2021 as well as tasks for 2022.