The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is improving access to licensed medical products in Uzbekistan by financing the expansion of Big-Family-Pharm (BFP), operator of the Akmal Pharm pharmacy chain in the Fergana Valley.
BFP, which runs 86 retail pharmacies across the Tashkent, Andijan and Fergana regions of Uzbekistan, will receive an EBRD loan of up to US$ 10 million (€8.7 million). This will be used to progress the company’s growth plans, enabling it to open 100 new pharmacies. The funds will help to renovate premises and procure specialist equipment and medicines.
As part of the project, BFP is planning to adopt World Health Organization Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) standards (which guarantee optimal, evidence-based care), thereby contributing to the improvement of pharmacy standards in Uzbekistan.
With technical support from the EBRD, BFP will roll out a new training programme on GPP and soft skills for employees and develop a strategy to modernise and digitalise its training centre.
To date, the EBRD has invested almost US$ 6.9 billion (€6 billion) in Uzbekistan through 210 projects, with most of the funds supporting private entrepreneurship. The country has been the leading recipient of EBRD funding in Central Asia for each of the past six years.
