OBJECTIVES:  Аnti-infective medicines are widely used in Armenia. However, a national reimbursement system covers cost of medicines only for patients from some vulnerable groups. The objective of this work was to study availability and affordability of anti-infectives for systemic use for outpatients in Armenia. METHODS: In May-June 2015 data on availability and prices of 10 tracer anti-infectives (all from the Armenian List of Essential Medicines) were collected in 60 pharmacy outlets from 10 different regions of Armenia and the capital - Yerevan. Affordability of medicines was calculated using methodology developed by World Health Organization and Health Action International: assessing the number of days for worker with the minimal salary to work in order to pay for one course of treatment with a particular medicine. RESULTS:  Tracer anti-infectives were available at more than 90 % of all the community pharmacies studied. Originator brands (OB) were found for 4 pharmaceuticals, generics - for all medicines. OBs for 3 of 4 medicines were much higher priced than lowest-priced generics (LPGs), however for 1 of 4 anti-infectives price for OBs is the same as price of highest priced generics (HPGs). Using matched medicine pairs (OBs:LPGs ratio), OBs were from 3.7 to 29 times the price of LPGs. One (Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim) medicine is affordable (OB and generics), generic products of Ceftriaxone, Aciclovir and Clarithromycin were affordable only if prescribed at low doses and unaffordable at higher doses; only generic products of Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline were affordable. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-infectives for systemic use are mainly available at pharmacy outlets in Armenia. There is a large difference in prices of OBs and LPGs. Due to high prices treatment of effective diseases can be unaffordable for many patients who pay for medicines out-of-pocket. A new policy on medicines reimbursement system could improve the situation.