Global drugmakers may refuse from further imports of cheap drugs to Russia

Global drugmakers operating in Russia may totally refuse to supply imports of cheap drugs to the country, due to unprofitability and economic futility, according to recent statements of Veronika Skvortsova, Russia’s Ministry of Health.

Ms Skvortsova said that the range of imported drugs, priced at $1-$1.50 presented in the Russian market has decreased by 8%-9% since the beginning of the current year and there is a possibility that the decline will continue this year, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

According to Nelly Ignatieffa, executive director of the Russian Association of Pharmacy Chains, in practice these medications can be replaced by more expensive drugs, however, amid the ongoing decline of purchasing power of the Russian population, many local people will not be able to afford purchases of more expensive analogues of those drugs that will have disappeared from the market.