Medicines in Kazakhstan rose by 7% in 2018 Q1, Energyprom.kz reports. According to 2018 first quarter results, prices for pharmaceutical products rose 2% compared to the previous quarter and by 6.6% on-year. The most noticeable annual price rise was recorded in the hormonal drugs segment – by 20.5%, analgesics also increased sharply in price – by 12.7% year-on-year and gastric remedies – by 9.1% yoy. Among the regions, Almaty region saw the most significant rise in prices – by 14% per year. Also, high growth rates of prices were recorded in Mangistau (+ 11.9% per year) and Atyrau (+ 10.9%) regions. The cost of medicines in EKO practically did not change – only + 0.9% yoy. Pharmaceutical corporations in Kazakhstan produced 4.12 tons of medicines in 2 months – 45.4% more than in the previous year. The largest volume traditionally fell on the Almaty region and Almaty (49.9% and 19.3% of the RK, respectively), as well as South Kazakhstan Oblast (13.2% of the RK). In the key troika of the regions there are such large companies as AbdiIbahim GlobalProm LLP, Kelun-KazPharm LLP, Dolce LLP (Almaty Region), Almaty Pharmaceutical Factory Nobel, Aurora LLP, Cheminnova Alimor Kazpharm LLP , Rapid-Alimor Pharm Industries LLP, Dosfarm LLP (Almaty), Zerde-Fito LLP, Khimpharm JSC (SKO) and others. In terms of value, production of basic pharmaceutical products reached KZT13.19bn in January-February 2018 – 13% more on-year.