Analysis of the retail pharmaceutical market of analgesic drugs Meloxicam and Nalbuphine included in military first aid kits since the beginning of hostilities in Ukraine

Aim. To analyze the range and physical and socio-economic availability of analgesic drugs (ADs) based on the international nonproprietary names (INN) Meloxicam (M01AC06) and Nalbuphine (N02AF02), which have been or are currently included in military first aid kits since the beginning of hostilities in Ukraine. Materials and methods. The study used data from the State Register of Medicinal Products of Ukraine and the online drug search and reservation service Tabletki.ua for May 2025. Methods of comparison, systematization, and statistical analysis of prices and availability in pharmacies in Ivano-Frankivsk were applied, using the Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC) and the interquartile range (IQR). Results. Analgesic drugs with INN “Meloxicam” used in the form of tablets or ampoules in the individual military first aid kit (IMFAK) or other first-aid kits for military needs were represented by a wider range in the local retail market and were more affordable than INN “Nalbuphine”. Thus, according to the analysis, as of May 2025, the pharmaceutical market of Ivano-Frankivsk offered 29 trade names (TNs) of Meloxicam and 7 TNs of Nalbuphine. The PCC calculation showed no linear relationship between the price and the number of pharmacies offering the drugs studied, while the IQR coefficient indicated the market stability for both INNs. In general, drugs produced by Ukrainian manufacturers were found to be the most affordable. Conclusions. The range of analgesic drugs based on Meloxicam is broader than that of Nalbuphine. The economic feasibility of using Meloxicam, along with its higher safety applications, has been confirmed by price stability and a greater number of the market offers in the pharmaceutical sector.