Current issue #41, 2015

The Russian accent

Extension of VED list may reduce the share of domestic drugs

The Russian MoH’s Inter-agency commission completed a regular revision of human drug lists already back in September. However, a resolution approving a new VED (Vital and Essential Drugs) list has not been signed yet. On the one hand, the pharmaceutical industry players are accustomed to MoH doing things slowly. If one goes back to the recent history, no VED list has been revised over a past few years. On the other hand, there is a conspiracy version, namely that the import substitution hinders signing of an appropriate document.

[PharmVestnik # 41, 15/12/2015, p. 1, cont’d p 2]

Licensed web drug trading may be permitted

The Russian MoH subjected to the public debate a draft law on web-based retail drug sales. Despite being a framework document, this is a milestone as the ministry made the first step on the way to supervision and legalization of the long existing web pharmacy market.

[PharmVestnik # 41, 15/12/2015, p. 3]

Just percentage points

Health expenditure in 2016 to account for 3.6% of GDP

On December 9, the Federation Council approved the law “On the Federal Budget for 2016” as well as a similar law regarding the budget of the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund. In the final documents pending the president’s signature, the allocated health expenditures made 3.6% of the GDP instead of 3.4% earmarked before the first reading. Thus, the request of the medical and patient communities seems to be fulfilled. However, the devil is in the details.

[PharmVestnik # 41, 15/12/2015, p. 1, cont’d p. 3]

Far from all drug and medical device manufacturers are ready to compete abroad

This year, the Russian Health Week’2015 forum coincided in time with signing of the “odd man out” regulation, which is a landmark event for the Pharma market. In the dialog between the regulators and businesses that was taking place on ...