Russia claims to have solved problem of counterfeit meds in domestic market

The share of counterfeit medicines in the Russian pharmaceutical market has declined to minimal figures in the last five years, which was mainly due to efforts that have been made by the state, according to a recent report published by the Russian pharmaceutical regulator Roszdravnadzor and some local media, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

A representative of Roszdravnadzor has said that, “over the past five years, the total number of counterfeit and falsified drugs in Russia has decreased by almost four-fold.”

Prior to 2014, counterfeit drugs accounted for a significant share in the Russian pharmaceutical market, however the tightening of criminal legislation and the imposition of 10-year prison sentences for drugs counterfeiting and their illegal turnover, has sharply reduced the number of counterfeit products in the Russian market.