Baku, September 16, 2025
Spending on medicines and medical supplies in Azerbaijan has surged to record levels this year, according to economist-MP Vugar Bayramov.
Citing official data, Bayramov noted that in the first eight months of 2025, retail trade turnover reached 40.4 billion manats, including 22.2 billion manats for food, beverages and tobacco, and 18.2 billion manats for non-food items. Compared with the same period in 2024, retail sales grew 3.7% in real terms — food sales rose 1.3%, while non-food items increased by 6.7%.
The sharpest jump came in the pharmaceutical sector. Household spending on medicines and medical supplies climbed by 21%, meaning citizens paid an extra 210 million manats compared with last year.
Bayramov pointed to two main factors behind the rise:
Price increases for drugs and medical services.
Growing demand for healthcare.
The State Statistics Committee has also recorded a rise in medical service fees, compounding the financial pressure on families.
Bayramov warned that this trend weighs heavily on household budgets:
“Price stability in pharmaceuticals is essential. While medicine prices are regulated, we must also optimize consumption costs. Expanding local production and minimizing imports are key to balancing prices and expenses.”
