A Fine of 7 Million — Prelude to Billions: What's Really Happening with the Largest Drug Distributor
Ukraine's AMCU Fined "Optima-Pharm" 7.09 Million Hryvnia for Failing to Provide Information — But This Is Just the Finale of a Longer Story About Price Collusion and Frozen Accounts of a Company That Controls 85% of Pharmacy Supplies Together With a Competitor.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
May 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Ukraine's Antimonopoly Committee has fined the joint Ukrainian-Estonian enterprise "Optima-Pharm, LTD" 7.09 million hryvnias for submitting incomplete information as requested by the deputy head of the AMCU within the established deadline. The decision was made on May 14. Formally — a technical violation. In reality — another episode in a much larger conflict between the regulator and two companies that together control the majority of the country's pharmaceutical market.
Background: Billions, not millions
In July 2025, the AMCU completed consideration of a case concerning price collusion in the wholesale pharmaceutical market. "Optima-Pharm" and its main competitor "BaDM" LLC submitted identical or similar prices for a number of popular medications almost simultaneously throughout 2020–2023.
"The AMCU obliged the economic entities to cease the indicated violation and imposed a fine of 2,374,168,475 hryvnias on 'BaDM' LLC and 2,432,403,190 hryvnias on 'Optima-Pharm, LTD'".
Official AMCU statement, July 31, 2025
Combined — over 4.8 billion hryvnias. Both companies appealed the decision in court, but the AMCU refused to suspend its enforcement during the appeal review.
From decision to frozen accounts
"BaDM" felt the consequences first: its accounts were partially blocked in December 2025 — for a time the company could not fully settle with suppliers. "Optima-Pharm" had to wait until April 22, 2026: the enforcement division of the State Enforcement Service opened enforcement proceedings and froze accounts at the State Treasury Service, "Ukreximbank," and "Oschadbank."
Together, the two companies control, by various estimates, from 80 to 88% of the pharmacy supply market in Ukraine. In autumn 2025, "Optima-Pharm" warehouses were hit by Russian strikes three times — which further complicated the company's operational resilience even before the account freeze.
Business reaction: EBA sounds the alarm
The European Business Association publicly warned of medication shortage risks and called for a "balanced approach" — while acknowledging the state's right to protect competition. "Optima-Pharm" stated its position briefly: the company acted in accordance with the law, is appealing the decision, and is not stopping operations.
- ~85% — combined share of pharmacy supplies controlled by BaDM and "Optima-Pharm"
- 4.8 billion hryvnias — total amount of fines for price collusion
- 7.09 million hryvnias — new fine for failing to provide information to the regulator
- April 2026 — freeze on "Optima-Pharm" accounts at three financial institutions
A fine for silence is the least of the company's problems. The main question now is different: if enforcement proceedings freeze "Optima-Pharm's" operational payments the same way it did for "BaDM," will pharmacies be able to compensate for supply disruptions through alternative suppliers — of which there are almost none on the market?
