Russian government restricts purchases of vital foreign drugs

The Russian government has restricted purchases of vital foreign drugs for state needs, according to a recent Decree signed this week by Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

According to the Decree, imported drugs will not be allowed to participate in public procurement if there is an offer from at least two domestic suppliers. Currently the Russian pharmaceutical market for state needs is estimated at 200 billion roubles (~$3 billion).

The restrictions will not be applied until December 31, 2016, for foreign drugs that, although produced abroad, are packed in the territory of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.