Imported colchicine to return to Armenian pharmacies in late January

Imported colchicine has become one of the most sought-after and scarce medicines in Armenia in recent months, with patients reporting widespread shortages and rising prices across the country.

On social media, users have been actively searching for colchicine produced in the UK, Italy and France amid concerns over limited availability in local pharmacies.

The Italian-made version of the drug is expected to return to the Armenian market at the end of January, according to Theopharma, the company responsible for importing the medicine.

Speaking to Panorama.am on Tuesday, a Theopharma representative said shipments would arrive in Armenia by the end of this week, with supplies reaching pharmacies shortly afterwards.

“At the end of the month, the drug will already be available in pharmacies. The quantity will definitely be sufficient to meet market demand,” the company said.

The importer attributed the shortage to a deficit of French-produced colchicine, which prompted many patients to switch to the Italian alternative, leading to faster-than-expected depletion of stocks.

“Consumption was higher than initially planned, but taking market demand into account, new orders have already been placed. We believe a similar situation should not be repeated,” the company representative added.

Armenia also produces colchicine locally, which is provided free of charge to patients. However, some patients have expressed dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of the domestically manufactured version.