Medvedev urged not to blame import substitution for the disappearance of a number of drugs from sale

The head of the Russian government, Dmitry Medvedev, during a press conference with Russian media, commented on the problem of imported drugs disappearing from pharmacies.

“I would not blame [the disappearance of a number of drugs] on import substitution,” Medvedev said. “This was done not to cut off our people from medicines - that would be inhumane, but to make them cheaper. Over the past year, our pharmaceutical industry has grown, in my opinion, by 18%. For example, prednisolone is available in 10 dosage forms, but you need to monitor the quality of these drugs.”

Medvedev noted the need for flexible state regulation of prices for medicines, but emphasized that if “prices are not pressed, they will skyrocket.” At the same time, “suppliers often do not want work at these prices,” the Prime Minister stated.

“I repeat: no one had a goal for imported medicines to disappear from pharmacies. We try to support domestic manufacturers in hospitals, but pharmacies should have everything you want. So that there is an assortment, so that people can choose for themselves what to invest in,” Medvedev summed up.

The head of government also noted the importance of investment in primary care and the need to modernize the material base. He admitted that the general state of the primary network in a number of regions is “depressing”: “It’s enough to drive 150 kilometers [from Moscow] and it’s a completely different story. The [hospital] buildings are dirty and scary. It’s impossible to treat people in a barn.”

On December 4, the Ministry of Health began negotiations with manufacturers of original antibiotics for the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis, so that the drugs remain in Russia.

The PSK Pharma company announced on December 2 that in Russia they will produce an analogue of the imported antibiotic Colistin for people with cystic fibrosis. The head of the Oxygen Foundation for helping people with cystic fibrosis, Maya Sonina, expressed doubt that the domestic generic will be able to replace the original drug.

In Moscow, on November 30, patients with cystic fibrosis began to go out on single pickets after original antibiotics left the Russian pharmaceutical market. They demanded the return of the drugs and changes to Federal Law No. 44 on procurement, which made it unprofitable for foreign pharmaceutical companies to supply drugs to Russia.

Representatives of patient organizations and charitable foundations told Takim Dela why foreign companies stopped supplying original antibiotics to Russia and what will happen to patients.