Current issue #19, 2017

MoH disagrees with knowledge-based calculations of pharmaceutical reimbursement costs

According to the estimates by Moscow School of Management Skolkovo, the implementation of pharmaceutical reimbursement at a 50% rate of the basic VED list cost, except for the most expensive drugs, will require approx. 65 bn RUB. The Ministry of Health experts think this an underestimation that, if taken as a basis, will surely result in failing the project once again.

[PharmVestnik # 19, 06/06/2017, pp. 1, cont’d p. 4]

MoH upholds statements that all drugs must be free

For the fifth time, Patient Advocate League President Alexander Saversky brings together like-minded people to prove that every Russian has the right to free drugs. Every year, increasingly more representatives of both legislative and executive authorities join this circle. On May 25^th, within the framework of the 5^th Congress “The right to drug”, amendments to the Federal Law No. 323 “On fundamental healthcare principles in the Russian Federation” were presented. In particular, amendments were proposed to the State Guarantee of Free Medical Care to the Citizens of the Russian Federation as follows: the above guarantee program should be supplemented with the responsibility to cover the citizens with the VEDs, and medical devices on the government-approved list of human implantable devices.

[PharmVestnik # 19, 06/06/2017, p. 2]

CIS develops anti-counterfeit measures

During the recent meeting of the Council of CIS State Leaders in Kazan, 12 agreements were signed that marked the main vectors of cooperation for the short term. One of such agreements concerns a joint struggle against counterfeit manufacture and distribution, including the pharmaceutical industry. The document provides for criminalization of manufacturing and circulating counterfeit drugs if such norm has not been provided for pursuant to the member states’ legislation.

[PharmVestnik # 19, 06/06/2017, p. 3]

Experts discussed quality of life of cancer patients

Cancer is increasingly often converted into a chronic form. Due to the state-of-the-art treatments, patients may survive for 10 and more years after having been diagnosed with cancer. Therefore, their well-being and activity move to the forefront. 80% of cancer patients surveyed by Patient Association “Zdravstvuy!” (Be Healthy) think that their quality of life has improved, while 50% of the patients report that they have been receiving treat...