As a result of the reference price reform, the population paid a total of 853 million GEL less for medicines in 2023-2025 - cheap speculations that pensioners have to spend their entire pension on medicines are not correct, - the Minister of Health, Mikheil Sarjveladze, said in his speech in Parliament.

According to the Minister, as of today, reference prices have been set for more than 7,500 pharmaceutical products.

"After the introduction of the reference pricing mechanism, some medicines in the retail chain have seen a price reduction of 70-80%. There are cases when this figure exceeds 90%. As a result of the reference pricing reform, the population paid a total of 853 million GEL less for medicines in 2023-2025. This is an average of 40% difference compared to what it would have been without this policy.

As for the steps taken by the state in favor of target groups, the significant changes made to the program for chronic disease medicines should be noted. The state continues to work in this direction so that the financial security of target groups is even more ensured within the program. This program operates for people with disabilities, pensioners with chronic diseases, and so on.

Cheap speculations about pensioners having to spend their entire pension on medicines are not correct. All high-quality treatment for a major and important disease is provided through this program," the Minister noted.