Investigators of the Bryansk region opened a criminal case on negligence in providing preferential categories of citizens with subsidized medicines, medical devices and medical nutrition (Part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). As reported on the website of the regional investigation committee, since January 1, 2023, the health department has not purchased products and has not provided it to those in need, despite the fact that 1.9 billion rubles were allocated for the purpose.
The case was initiated against unnamed “senior officials of the Bryansk region Department of Health.” According to the investigation, the suspects were well aware that the drugs, medical devices and nutrition were needed urgently to privileged categories of citizens, including disabled children.
Since the beginning of 2023, there have been several situations related to the healthcare system in the Bryansk region which are now being investigated. So, in April, Larisa Borshchevskaya, director of the Bryansk Department of Health, was detained on charges of taking a bribe, as well as Yulia Beskova, a representative of Lancet, a pharmaceutical company, who allegedly gave money to the official as a reward for mediation in concluding state contracts without a competitive selection procedure.
Law enforcement officers in the Bryansk region also found a sales channel for medicines not registered in the Russian Federation, and a criminal case was initiated in that respect under Part 1 of Article 238.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The assortment of the “store” included anti-cancer drugs.
