Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze says that the clustering of multiple competing pharmacy chains next to one another is a uniquely Georgian phenomenon that ultimately affects prices.
According to him, this situation needs to be addressed through coordinated regulation that also takes into account the burden placed on businesses.
“Extensive statistics and analytics aren’t even necessary - we have all seen several pharmacy brands operating side by side right next to our homes. It looks strange, of course. We all know how things function in European countries, for example. Personally, I have never seen multiple competing pharmacy chains opening stores right next to each other. But here, this oddity exists: once one pharmacy opens, several others immediately appear beside it. Naturally, this creates a certain burden on businesses, and that burden is reflected in prices,” Sarjveladze said on Imedi TV.
