Russia’s Putin says stockpile wanted to curb drug shortages

Jan 24 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that there have been shortages of some medicines in Russia, regardless of the nation producing extra of its personal medication, and advised increase shares of common medicines to assist meet demand.

Whereas prescribed drugs are exempt from Western sanctions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine, their supply to Russia has been hit by transport, insurance coverage and customs hurdles attributable to the conflict and different restrictive measures, trade figures say.

“There was a scarcity of some medication, although we noticed manufacturing of pharmaceutical merchandise within the (first) three quarters of final yr develop by about 22%,” Putin stated in a televised assembly with authorities officers.

“Sixty % of medicines available on the market are home medication. Nonetheless, a deficit has shaped in some medication, and costs have risen.”

He added that Russia doesn’t prohibit imports of medication and continues to work with overseas producers.

“We have to guarantee there are provides of the preferred medication inside a sure time period,” he stated, suggesting that Russia may stockpile medication for the flu season in the identical means it builds up fuel reserves in preparation for winter.

Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February final yr, Russians rushed to fill up on medication, with folks shopping for a month’s price of medication in simply two weeks.

Russia additionally imports a big share of its medical tools, equivalent to pacemakers and radiotherapy gadgets, from the European Union and the US, and its reliance is especially acute for probably the most advanced and important machines.

Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Caleb Davis; Enhancing by Mark Trevelyan

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