KIHE 2023: EXPERTS TALKED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Today, on May 17, 2023, the Kazakhstan International Healthcare Exhibition - KIHE, which is the largest demonstration platform for achievements in the field of scientific and practical medicine and pharmaceuticals in Central Asia, began its work in Almaty and annually brings together doctors of various specialties, pharmacists, government officials and businesses from different countries.

In addition to the exhibition part, the KIHE 2023 program includes conferences, round tables and seminars with the participation of representatives of government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and associations, as well as medical institutions.

The first day of the international exhibition started with a discussion on the topic “Pharmaceutical industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan: realities and opportunities”. The conference program included speeches by heads of regulatory and expert bodies in the field of healthcare and the sphere of drug circulation. Recognized leaders and leading industry experts acted as moderators and speakers.

As part of the event, participants will discuss the latest changes in the regulation of the sphere of circulation of medicines, the current state of various segments of the pharmaceutical market, as well as the most pressing issues of drug provision for the population.

Among the speakers of the conference was Artur Kazhibaev, Managing Director, member of the Board of SK-Pharmacy LLP. In his report, he spoke in detail about the development of the country's pharmaceutical industry and noted that today the development of domestic pharmaceutical production is one of the priority tasks set for the industry by the Head of State.

In Kazakhstan, there is a clear and transparent hierarchy of processes in the field of circulation of medicines, from the moment of registration of drugs to the issuance to the patient. The Kazakh pharmaceutical industry, thanks to effective government support measures, has a huge potential for profitable investments, and in 2022 the industry showed a positive trend in all key indicators.

  “Today, the development of domestic pharmaceutical production is one of the priority tasks set for the industry by the Head of State. By 2025, the share of the domestic market in the pharmaceutical industry should be about 50%,” said Artur Kazhibaev.

The role of the Single Distributor in the share of purchases from the total Kazakhstani market is about 60%. At the end of 2022, medicines worth $774.5 million were purchased as part of the drug supply. The volume of purchases in monetary terms increased 11 times, and the total savings of budget funds amounted to 192.6 billion tenge.

In addition, the participants were introduced to the mechanisms of contract manufacturing and work with a number of BigPharma companies on projects for the production of innovative drugs with the possibility of export to the countries of the EAEU and Central Asia. To date, the Ministry has already concluded framework cooperation agreements with such global pharmaceutical companies as F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

Also, the Single Distributor is conducting a substantive study of the issues of localization of the production of medical equipment in Kazakhstan using the mechanisms of long-term contracts, off-take contracts, leasing mechanisms, and life cycle contracts. The issues of localization / contract manufacturing with major global manufacturers are being actively worked out. Companies such as Canon, Philips, General Electric, Samsung Medison, Mindray and others expressed their interest in localizing production.

For the successful implementation of the goals set by the Head of State, and based on the results of studying international experience, the Single Distributor also takes the initiative to create medical and pharmaceutical clusters in the country. The corresponding order of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the creation of medical and pharmaceutical clusters in the country in the cities of Astana, Aktobe, Shymkent has already entered into force and work is underway to develop and approve road maps for the implementation of the initiative. On March 17, a memorandum was signed on the creation of a medical and pharmaceutical cluster in the city of Shymkent.

Kazakhstan is interested in attracting investments and advanced technologies necessary for the successful implementation of the modernization of the economy. Key importance is attached to the development of the production of expensive innovative products, the promotion of the industry in the direction of technology transfer, its digitalization, as well as the development of a cluster initiative. Combining efforts for the development of the industry, both on the part of the state and private capital, will ensure the growth of production of import-substituting products and attract world giants to Kazakhstan.

At the end of the conference, the participants expressed confidence that this event served as a unique platform for a constructive and open dialogue and will play an important role in the future implementation of the tasks set, and also contributes to the further development of domestic medicine.

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KIHE is the largest demonstration platform for achievements in the field of scientific and practical medicine and pharmaceuticals in Central Asia and annually brings together doctors of various specialties, pharmacists, government and business representatives from different countries.

Exhibitors in 2023 are more than 300 companies from 17 countries - Belarus, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Egypt, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, China, Latvia, Pakistan, Russia, USA, France, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, South Korea. 45% of the stands were organized by Kazakh companies, 55% - by foreign companies.