«Farmatsiia» wishes to retain 90% of rental income to fund the development of pharmacies in villages across the Mykolaiv region

Municipal Enterprise Farmatsiia. Photo from open sources

The municipal enterprise Farmatsiia is requesting to retain 90% of the income from the rental of its property — approximately 170–180 thousand hryvnias per month — for the development of a pharmacy network in villages and the implementation of the «Affordable Medicines» programme.

This was discussed on 3 April at a meeting of the Committee on Regional Development, Planning, Budget, Finance and Investment, NikVesti reports.

Iryna Tkachenko, Head of the Health Department at the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, stated that during 2025, the municipal enterprise Farmatsiia opened six new pharmacies, the number of employees rose from 42 to 56, and it also increased the scope of state and social programmes, notably «Affordable Medicines», by 2.2 million hryvnias. At the same time, the enterprise lacks funds to develop pharmacies within hospitals. The reallocation of rent, amounting to approximately 180,000 hryvnias per month, will enable the pharmacies to continue operating and ensure their social focus.

«This is due to the fact that on 3 March 2026, amendments were made to the licence, requiring pharmacy outlets in healthcare facilities to stock medicines from at least three manufacturers offering the lowest prices. This has led to a reduction in the company’s revenue of approximately 50%. We ensure the availability of medicines for patients, but the company lacks funds. We therefore ask for your support for this decision,» noted Iryna Tkachenko.

Committee Chair Vitalii Homerskyi emphasised that the request to retain 90% of the revenue appears atypical for leasing practice.

«I find it strange: a company leasing property is asking to keep 90% of the profit for itself. There are leasing rules, but we will hear from the lawyer and put it to a vote,» he said.

Deputy Head of the Department and Head of the Property Leasing Division of the Property Management Department, Oleksandr Ivanina, explained that the funds come from the lease of property on Farmatsiia’s balance sheet, and the law allows the regional council to establish the procedure for their distribution. The amount of revenue may vary depending on rent indexation and auctions held.

«This is not about property directly leased by Farmatsiia, but about funds from the lease of real estate on its balance sheet. We are talking about approximately 180,000 hryvnias per month. This amount may fluctuate due to rent indexation or auction conditions. Currently, Farmatsiia receives 50% plus VAT. Once the decision is made, the company will receive an additional 170–180 thousand per month,» said Oleksandr Ivanina.

Councillors emphasised the need for expenditure control.

«We need to see where this 90% is going, where the new pharmacies will be located, and whether medicines will be accessible to the public there,» said Takhir Sadridinov.

Following the committee meeting, a decision was taken to support Farmatsiia's initiative regarding the redistribution of rent, on the condition that the funds are directed exclusively towards the company’s socially oriented statutory activities. The draft decision will be finalised, a term of validity will be established, provisions on management reporting will be set out, and it will be submitted for consideration at a session of the regional council in agreement with the Housing and Utilities Commission.

It should be recalled that in 2023, the Mykolaiv Regional Council, invoking martial law, appointed three heads of regional hospitals without a competitive selection process. Among them is Pavlo Ryshkov, who took charge of the loss-making municipal enterprise Farmatsiia. According to him, he owns several pharmacies in Mykolaiv and describes his business as «successful».

Ryshkov’s appointment took place on the recommendation of the head of the Regional State Administration, Vitalii Kim, in December 2023.

Last year, the Mykolaiv Regional Council increased the authorised capital of the municipal enterprise Farmatsiia to 35 million hryvnias.