Pharmacy networks irresponsibly optimize taxes even during the war - expert

To spread: According to the State Tax Service, out of 18 thousand pharmacies in Ukraine, about 17 thousand are registered not as an enterprise, but as individual entrepreneurs. In the conditions of a full -scale war, when each hryvnia in the budget is critical for the front, ensuring the proper level of medicine and supporting the population, pharmacy networks in Ukraine continue to use massive tax minimization schemes.

The public figure and officer of the Armed Forces Viktor Taran said this on his Facebook page, UNIAN writes. According to the State Tax Service, out of 18 thousand pharmacies in Ukraine, about 17 thousand are registered not as an enterprise, but as individuals-entrepreneurs (FOP). This network, often with hundreds of points, centralized logistics systems, accounting and even their own brands, formally remain in the category of small business, which allows them to avoid full taxation.

"That is, you are not a pharmacy, with logistics, accounting and corporate bonuses, but it is unclear who? We are all FOPs, say pharmacy networks . . . We are small business, says a network of 400 pharmacies and our own painkillers. We are honest," Victor Taran wrote, illustrating the situation in the market. The optimization model through FOP allows pharmaceutical networks to pay meager amounts of income tax. According to the State Tax Service, only 0. 2-0.

25%of income is paid on average, while producers of medicines-2-3%and distributors-about 1-1. 2%. Against the background of the fact that the state budget lacks UAH 8 billion in the state budget to cover the needs of medicines for severe patients, such tax behavior of pharmacies, according to Taran, is unacceptable. "When there is a war in the country and the budget lacks the money for medicines for children and the elderly, it is impossible to optimize taxes.

Because really responsible business should take care not only of its profits, but about the public good. Of course, if it is a responsible business," he emphasized. The publication reminds that in February 2025 the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine made a decision on urgent measures to reduce the cost of medicines.

The government introduced a temporary ban on marketing payments in pharmacies and introduced marginal margins for drugs - from 10% to 35%, depending on the category of drug. Manufacturers have voluntarily reduced prices for more than 300 most common drugs, and since March, public authorities have launched mass inspections of pharmacy networks.