Ananich: the issue of rising prices for food and medicine is the most significant for the majority of Belarusians

March 24, MINSK. Rising prices for food and medicine remain the most significant issue for the majority of Belarusians. This was told to a BelTA correspondent by Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance of the Council of the Republic, Chairman of the Board of Belarusbank Viktor Ananich.

"The rise in food prices in retail chains and convenience stores is a pressing problem today, especially when it comes to a group of socially important goods. This also applies to the cost of medicines in pharmacies. From an economic point of view, this process should be interconnected with the level of inflation. However, there are often cases when prices in stores grow for no particular reason, when one can observe an unusual increase in the cost of a particular product, the production and sale of which, for example, does not depend on seasonality. The state is paying more and more attention to this issue, "said Victor Ananich.

In addition to the trade unions and the government, the deputy corps has also actively joined the monitoring of prices throughout the country. According to Viktor Ananich, despite the fact that each person relates to the cost of goods and expenses based on their income, this topic is still relevant and significant for the entire population. By the way, in each of the three districts of the Mogilev region, from which the senator was elected, Viktor Ananich is assisted in monitoring prices in the regions by assistants to a member of the Council of the Republic.

To prevent this issue from being so tangible for the wallets of the majority of Belarusians, the state has already taken some measures, the senator noted. For example, the growth of all prices (manufacturer, importer, distribution network) is now no more than 0.2% per month. At the same time, socially significant goods cannot cost more than certain thresholds. This is what is in the basket of almost everyone - bread, MILK , cereals, MEAT.

Price monitoring was also organized in pharmacies. Given the recent increase in VAT rates on the import of medicines and medical devices, most pharmacy chains, in turn, reacted by increasing prices for medicines. In view of the seasonality of diseases, which is usually observed in the winter-spring period, today this topic is all the more relevant. Therefore, the state also had to intervene in the issue of price regulation in the drug market. At the same time, as practice shows, the state pharmacy chain is building a more loyal system and continues to offer discounts on imported and domestic medicines to all categories of citizens.

“We must understand that it is difficult to stop the rise in prices in the conditions of instability in world markets, but this process must be manageable so that there is no artificial increase in prices for goods. This issue, among other things, worries citizens during personal receptions,” Viktor Ananich emphasized. .

According to him, this work will continue to be on the agenda of deputies and other state bodies. Regular monitoring of prices in large cities and small towns allows you to keep the situation under control. The measures taken by the state make goods in stores and medicines in pharmacies more accessible to residents, thereby confirming the social orientation of the republic.