More than a third of Russians reported that they were faced with a shortage of certain medications this year; more than 90% of respondents also noted an increase in the price of drugs. Such data follows from a survey conducted by the Modern Media Institute (MOMRI), TASS reports.
“More than a third – 36% of respondents – experienced shortages of certain medications during the year. The problem of lack of necessary medications was encountered more often by middle-aged Russians (25-45 years old), and more often by women than men,” the study says.
At the same time, the press service of Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (Roszdravnadzor), explained that, according to the information and analytical system of the Government of the Russian Federation “Monitoring defects in medicines and medical devices,” Russians are provided with drugs from the list of vital and essential drugs for 9.4 months. In addition, about 70% of the pharmaceutical market in the country consists of domestically produced drugs.
“The absence of a specific trade name of a drug in a particular pharmacy is not a sign of shortage; the citizen should be offered drugs of other trade names with the same active substance. In addition, let us remind you that when prescribing treatment, the doctor writes a prescription using the international nonproprietary name,” the department added.