Russia taking more measures to avoid drugs' shortages in domestic market

The Ministry of Health has begun collecting data on drugs that are not produced in Russia as well as a number of “friendly” countries as part of its efforts to prevention their shortage in the domestic market, according to recent statements by an official spokesman of the Ministry and local media, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

Despite the ongoing military conflict between Ukraine and Russia most global drugmakers continue to work in Russia, supplying essential medicines for the needs of local patients. As of now, only the USA’s Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has suspended sales to Russia of Cialis (tadalafil) - a drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which the company considers non-essential.

Still, despite this, amid the fears of the possible shortage of drugs in the domestic market, the Russian federal government has already sent an instruction to regional authorities to analyze the available reserves, particularly those of vital and essential drugs and ensure their availability in pharmacies.