Experts criticized the restrictions imposed by the Russian government on the purchase of imported ventilators

The Live Now charity foundation criticized the restrictions imposed by the government for public medical institutions on the purchase of imported breathing equipment.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree expanding the list of medical products that state and municipal medical institutions should not purchase from foreign manufacturers. 14 new items have been added, including artificial lung ventilation devices (ALVs), inhalation anesthesia devices, joint replacements, bandages, orthopedic children's shoes and diapers.

Analogs of each of these products are produced in sufficient quantities by at least two Russian companies, the government noted. The decisions made, according to the document, are aimed at developing the production of medical devices in Russia.

Pulmonologist, expert of the Live Now Foundation Vasily Shtabnitsky said that, even prolonging life, domestic breathing equipment, “unfortunately, cannot adequately ensure its quality.”

“Our clinical experience suggests that even with the characteristics stated on paper, domestic equipment is inferior to imported equipment,” states Shtabnitsky. — Russian breathing equipment is not designed for home use, does not have the required degree of comfort, and does not have sufficient non-invasive ventilation functions. It does not sufficiently address patient safety in the event of power outages and power surges. Western appliances allow a person to be mobile, even to the point of swimming in a pool. Russian analogues cannot provide this.”

General Director of the Live Now Foundation Natalya Lugovaya noted with regret that such a restriction on purchases “could negate” the hopes of thousands of families across the country who were waiting for the Ministry of Health to approve the procedure for transferring breathing apparatus to palliative patients for use at home. For patients with respiratory failure, this was hope for life and for a decent quality of life, Lugovaya emphasized.

“It seems that the purchase of really necessary equipment - and this is not only about mechanical ventilation, but also about functional beds, strollers - everything that significantly makes the lives of sick people and their loved ones easier - will fall heavily on non-profit organizations,” the director expressed concerns fund.

In 2018, the Live Now charity foundation wrote an open letter to the president, government, State Duma and Federation Council asking not to ban the purchase of foreign ventilators in Russia.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova said that the country will switch to import substitution of painkillers to provide palliative care by 2023. Today, as the government notes, 300 thousand palliative patients need pain relief, but the data will later be clarified.

In March, a law on palliative care came into force in Russia. The law establishes the patient’s right to pain relief, including with narcotic drugs. The concept of “palliative medical care” is also clarified and the procedure for its provision on an outpatient basis and at home and the procedure for social services for terminally ill people are determined.

The law defines palliative care as a set of measures that includes medical interventions, psychological measures and care aimed at improving the quality of life of a terminally ill person. A terminally ill person who chooses to spend the last months of his life at home must be provided with all necessary medical equipment, supplies and medications.