Every year on October 15, our country celebrates a professional holiday - the Day of Workers in the Pharmaceutical and Microbiological Industry. In the Drogichin district, the main pharmaceutical enterprise is OAO "Ekzon", known to everyone for producing legendary hematomogens, syrups, and tablets.

In the success of any modern pharmaceutical enterprise, there are two key driving forces. The first is those who create a quality product, and the second is those who open the way for it to consumers. At OAO "Ekzon" enterprise, the engineering service works hand in hand with the sales department specialists. It is their tandem that allows the enterprise to remain not just afloat, but to develop successfully.

The Matter of Technology

Behind every new product, automated line, and modernized facility, there is always complex technical thought, led by the chief engineer of OAO "Ekzon", Alexander Rapinchuk. Alexander Vasilyevich has been working in this position for ten years and clearly knows that in his work, there are no minor details. The quality of medicines and biologically active additives that millions of people take, not only in our country but also beyond its borders, depends on the uninterrupted operation of ventilation systems, lines, water and steam sterility. Very often, many people do not even notice the work of fitters, electricians, or equipment adjusters, but in fact, the engineering service of the enterprise can be boldly called its behind-the-scenes.

"In the pharmaceutical industry, more and more requirements are being introduced every year for the production of preparations, especially stringent requirements for equipment, communications, and air cleanliness," notes chief engineer Alexander Rapinchuk.

Under the strict daily control of Alexander Vasilyevich, comfortable and safe conditions are created for each worker, electrician, adjuster, and line operator. "Our main priority is labor safety," emphasizes Alexander Rapinchuk. "On a permanent basis, our employees undergo knowledge checks on labor protection, technological issues. We have separate classes at the pharmaceutical enterprise for teaching safety rules. The transport department is equipped for studying technological issues for drivers."

One of the main areas of work for Alexander Rapinchuk as the chief engineer is the constant modernization of the pharmaceutical enterprise. My interlocutor believes that without modernization, the enterprise has no future. Over the past two years alone, OAO Exon has carried out a significant amount of work in improving its facilities.

In 2025, we updated the powder production line in accordance with modern European requirements. We modernized the compressed air supply system, which ensures the quality of products. This modernization is quite costly in monetary terms, but we strive to move forward, to develop and achieve new results. This year, we modernized the syrup production section and the water preparation system, the chief engineer said.

The pharmaceutical market is not standing still and is rapidly moving forward. If you slow down a bit, your competitors will already push you out of the market. Therefore, the enterprise has plans for a large-scale project to build a new modern workshop. Currently, the project and estimate documentation for the construction is being developed, and in parallel, the development of medical preparations for the new workshop is underway. OAO Exon plans to produce solid medicinal forms with the aim of import substitution.

Alexander Vasilyevich notes that any projects, the solution of technical issues, are impossible without a strong team: engineers, mechanics, energy specialists, and specialists. Over the years, we have formed a core of specialists who successfully cope with the tasks set before them, difficulties, and whom we can confidently rely on, emphasizes the chief engineer. It is difficult to single out a few specialists, as they are all professionals in their field. For example, Ruslan Slesarev has been working as an engineer-adjuster at our pharmaceutical enterprise for many years, Alexander Shnar, Alexander Litovchik, and many others who responsibly approach the execution of their tasks.

Every day, coming to their workplace, adjusters, electricians, specialists from the development and registration departments, production and technological departments, and other departments solve hundreds of operational issues: from planned equipment repairs to the integration of digital technologies in production, and thereby help their pharmaceutical enterprise take big steps forward and reach new heights.

The path to the consumer

Of course, without the operational solution of complex technical problems, the movement of the enterprise forward would be impossible. But with good equipment and the production of high-quality goods, the products can still lie in the warehouse for a long time if no one knows about them. And here, the professionals from the sales department of OAO Exon come into play. Their work is practically invisible in the workshops, but it is precisely thanks to them that the products acquire real commercial interest. The sales department specialists open up new markets for the pharmaceutical company's products, both domestic and export, analyze the market, and help promote their products far beyond Belarus.

The sales department team is small, but each employee has their own area of responsibility. The department is headed by Evgeny Filipovich. Evgeny Valentinovich has been working at this pharmaceutical enterprise for over 13 years, starting his career as a machine operator. Since 2014, he has been engaged in sales of OAO Exon products, and since 2023, he has been heading the department. Irina Kapuza is the deputy head of the sales department. Irina Vasilevna is responsible for finding partners and conducting negotiations on various commercial projects in foreign countries.

Tatiana Sedlyar and Anna Dubinka are engaged in monitoring the needs of the pharmaceutical market, planning the volume of supplies, and timely dispatching of batches to regions of our country. Zoya Romanovich is responsible for promoting products through wholesale and retail networks, educational institutions.

In recent years, representatives of OAO Exon have become regular participants in the largest industry forums. From republican specialized platforms to large-scale international exhibitions in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other countries. Thanks to participation in such large-scale events, contracts are concluded for the supply of products to various countries of the world.

Our team is actively promoting the Belarusian brand in the form of hematogens and medicines on the international arena. To date, the geography of supplies of OAO Exon products includes 10 countries, said Evgeny Filipovich, head of the sales department. Of course, the main buyer is the Russian Federation. Our products are also in demand in other countries: Kazakhstan, Latvia, Israel, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan. To date, the export of products has increased by 124% compared to the previous year. This is an excellent result.

The main product that is exported abroad is hematogen in various assortments and medicinal preparations such as Renikzon, Atsetsezon, and Smectit. Deputy head of the sales department, Irina Kapuza, notes that buyers most often prefer "pure" hematogen without additives, as people commonly refer to it - the classic version. "Very often, when we participate in forums or exhibitions with our products, people approach us, try our hematogen, and immediately share their impressions: 'It's as if I remembered my childhood'," Irina Vasilevna recounts.

The head of the sales department emphasizes that over the past 9 months of the current year, OAO Ekzon has been actively increasing its export deliveries: "At the end of August, the director of our enterprise, Anton Repich, as part of a delegation from the Brest region, led by Governor Petr Parkhomchik, visited the Irkutsk region, where a large-scale contract was signed for the supply of our products. We also concluded contracts with Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan this year."

In a situation of fierce competition, it is difficult to find new customers for product distribution. However, the sales department of the pharmaceutical enterprise successfully copes with the tasks set before it.

"We are competing not only with import companies but also with manufacturers in Belarus that have similar products. Lately, many pharmaceutical enterprises have been trying to reduce the cost of their products by changing their technology to speed up the hematogen production process. Therefore, it is difficult to compete with them in terms of price," Irina Kapuza adds during the conversation. "We adhere to a strategy where our product may be more expensive, but it will be a natural and high-quality product. We still produce hematogen according to strict 'classic' recipes and technologies. That's why it has an unchanged taste, a taste familiar from childhood. And despite the fact that our price is higher, our hematogen has won its place on the markets of CIS countries and neighboring foreign countries."

If we talk about the development of the pharmaceutical enterprise at the republican level, OAO Ekzon not only presents an updated range of products but also actively participates in scientific and practical conferences. The enterprise's products serve as a real example of successful import substitution. Thanks to a systematic approach and strict adherence to standards, buyers receive effective and affordable medications, biologically active additives that support the health of the whole family.

– The main secret of the delicious and healthy products of OAO Exon for over thirty years remains the most important thing – quality, – specialists from the sales department summarize in unison.

Alina SOKOLOVSKAYA.

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