Yan Vlasov, co-chairman of the All-Russian Union of Public Associations of Patients, has called for increased regulation of oral contraceptives, emphasizing the need for tighter control due to the fact that people are purchasing them without a doctor’s prescription. Speaking at a roundtable discussion on reproductive medical examinations in the Federation Council, Vlasov expressed concern about the current situation, stating, «What is happening now is beyond comprehension: no prescriptions, no medical examination. People just buy and take these drugs». His words were quoted by the Parlamentskaya Gazeta.
He also pointed out that clinical recommendations do not always accurately reflect the indications for the use of these contraceptives. Vlasov urged an examination of why medical commissions prescribe contraceptives when alternative medications might be more appropriate. «Sometimes there are quite strange situations», — he noted.
In 2024, for the first time since 2021, the Russian contraceptive market recorded a 1.4% decrease in sales in physical terms in 2024, to 20.9 million packages, according to the DSM Group analysts. However, cash turnover increased by 13%, reaching 32.1 billion rubles. Analysts also state that in 2024 the price of oral contraceptives in Russia rose by 14.6% y-o-y, with the average price per package being 1,539 rubles.
