Samvel Karapetyan's movement promises price cuts for 100 essential medicines in Armenia

The Mer Dzevov (In Our Way) movement, founded by businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, seeks to reduce the prices of 100 widely used medicines in Armenia. The initiative is part of a reform package aimed at easing the financial burden on pensioners and people living with chronic illnesses.

In a video released on Tuesday, the movement’s spokesperson, Mariane Ghahramanyan, said the measure is part of Karapetyan’s proposed five-step economic plan, which calls for reducing medicine prices by at least 20 percent.

“The same medicines are cheaper in Georgia than in Armenia. This is a fact, not an opinion,” Ghahramanyan stated. “A reduction of 20 percent or more would have a direct impact on large segments of society.”

According to Ghahramanyan, lowering the cost of 100 essential medicines would significantly reduce expenses for pensioners and patients with chronic conditions. “They should no longer be forced to choose between buying bread or buying medicine,” she said.

“If this is possible in Georgia, then we are obligated to make it happen in a strong Armenia,” Ghahramanyan added.

The five economic steps proposed by Karapetyan include:

1. The creation of 300,000 new jobs, particularly in regional areas;

2. Zero taxes for small businesses;

3. A 20% reduction in medicine prices for all consumers;

4. Guaranteed purchase of agricultural produce in rural communities;

5. The construction of 20,000 affordable housing units with state support.