To expand their product market, Armenian chemical and pharmaceutical companies have to comply with strict GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards.

“We negotiate establishment of GPM standardization institute with the Ministries of Economy and Healthcare,” chairman of the Armenian union of manufacturers and importers of medicines Samvel Zakaryan told reporters on June 9.

“Currently, local medicine manufacturers may export their products to CIS countries only while European markets remain unavailable,” he said.

He also noted that only 10-12% of medicines essential for the local market in Armenia are produced in the republic, while the rest are being imported.

“This filed is of strategic importance for a small country like Armenia, as in cases of emergency the country should manage to provide the population with the essential amount of medicines,” he said.

As for expired and false medicines, the union conducts monitoring of drugstores, the results of which are submitted to relevant state agencies.

Zakaryan called on Armenian consumers to buy Armenian-made medicines, which “are no worse than the imported ones.”