The 2nd International Conference titled “Azerbaijan’s Pharmaceutical Industry: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center with the support of the Azerbaijan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Public Union, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Economy, and the Embassy of Hungary in Azerbaijan.
At the conference, representatives of government institutions, foreign experts, and local pharmaceutical manufacturers came together to deliver speeches and hold extensive discussions on the current state of Azerbaijan’s pharmaceutical sector, its development prospects, ways to strengthen local production, and opportunities to apply advanced international practices.

At the opening of the conference, Health Minister Teymur Musayev touched upon the development path of the pharmaceutical industry, stating:
“During the leadership of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the institutional foundations of the pharmaceutical sector in Azerbaijan were established, and the first manufacturing enterprises were created.”
The minister emphasized that today, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, significant achievements are being made in healthcare and the pharmaceutical sector, as in all other areas of the country.
Teymur Musayev noted that the reforms implemented to develop the domestic pharmaceutical industry—such as the creation of industrial parks, the attraction of foreign investments, and the establishment of modern manufacturing facilities in regions, including the liberated territories—ensure the sustainable development of the sector.
In his speech, the minister also highlighted the importance of digitalization:
“Digital solutions such as the electronic prescription system and the Drug Tracking and Traceability System contribute to increasing transparency, strengthening control mechanisms, and organizing management more effectively.”

Later, the Chair of the Health Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ahliman Amiraslanov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Azerbaijan, Tamas Jozsef Torma, Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli, and the Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency under the Ministry of Economy, Orkhan Mammadov, delivered speeches. They emphasized the importance of strengthening local production for the sustainable development of the pharmaceutical industry in the country, ensuring the population’s access to safe and effective medicines, expanding public–private sector cooperation in this field, applying innovative technologies, adopting international best practices, and improving quality standards.
During the event, the role of digitalization and artificial intelligence in the future of the pharmaceutical industry was given special attention within the framework of a panel discussion.

Advisor to the Minister of Health, Rufat Haji Alibayov, stated during the panel session that the digitalization of the healthcare sector is one of the main priority areas in the activities of the Ministry of Health:
“Within the framework of the digital transformation strategy of the healthcare sector, the Unified Health Information System (UHIS) has been created by the Ministry and is being successfully implemented.”
Rufat Hacialibayov also emphasized that the digitalization of the pharmaceutical sector began in 2023:
“The main objective of these implemented systems is to strengthen control over the circulation of medicines, combat counterfeit products, increase transparency in the pharmaceutical market, and improve the quality of medical services provided.”

It was also noted in the panel session speeches that the application of modern technologies contributes to increasing production efficiency, strengthening quality control, and forming a competitive industrial model.
The development model presented within the framework of the event was assessed as the beginning of a new stage in the pharmaceutical industry. It was noted that, within this model, the expansion of local production is planned starting from the current year, and in the coming years, various pharmaceutical products are expected to be introduced to consumers.
The main goal of the conference was not only to discuss existing challenges, but also to exchange views on specialized knowledge and experience, innovative approaches, and current issues and questions, as well as to contribute to the development of the local pharmaceutical industry. This approach serves to foster more dynamic cooperation among local manufacturers and to strengthen synergy within the industry.
One of the key directions of the conference was the study of the experiences of countries that have achieved success in local production processes. For this purpose, leading representatives from Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry of Uzbekistan, Investment Projects Department of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, and Semmelweis University Health Services Management Training Center delivered speeches and shared their experiences.