Putin says Russia is facing a shortage of medicine due to war with Ukraine

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 medicine, and steered build up shares of well-liked medicines to assist meet demand.

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

“There was a scarcity of some medicine, even if we noticed manufacturing of pharmaceutical merchandise within the (first) three quarters of final 12 months develop by about 22%,” Putin stated in a televised assembly with authorities officers.

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

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

“We have to guarantee there are provides of the most well-liked medicine inside a sure time frame,” he stated, suggesting that Russia may stockpile medicine for the flu season in the identical approach it builds up fuel reserves in preparation for winter.

Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February final 12 months, Russians rushed to top off on medicine, with individuals shopping for a month’s price of drugs in simply two weeks.

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