The development of the medication supply system is a high priority aspect of the state healthcare policy. The volume of the Russian pharmaceutical market has expanded over the past 15 years, and state funding for the provision of free medications has increased 100% on 2007.
The Strategy for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry of the Russian Federation up to 2020, the Federal Targeted Programme “Development of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry in the Russian Federation up to 2020 and Beyond,” as well as the State Programme “Development of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry in 2013-2020,” are being implemented in order to switch to an innovation model of the national pharmaceutical industry’s development, including the creation of medications and their production in the Russian Federation.
Russia currently lags behind industrial countries in terms of medication supply levels. There are also regional discrepancies in terms of medication availability, and state price-regulation mechanisms are required.
The Strategy of Medications Supply up to 2025, which prioritises more affordable, effective and safer medications for the population and the healthcare system, is aimed at tackling systemic problems. Its objectives should be accomplished by forming a rational and well-balanced system of medication supply.
The Action Plan for Implementing the Strategy envisions the following three stages:
Modification of regulatory legal documents in the area of medication supply (2013-2015);
Implementation of pilot projects to improve medication supply for the population in Russian regions (2015-2016);
Introduction of effective medication supply models in the Russian Federation (2017-2025).
The implementation of the Strategy will improve the safety, effectiveness and quality of medications, the qualification of medical and pharmaceutical personnel and the quality of healthcare services. The implementation of the Strategy will meet high-priority demand of the healthcare system for essential and vital medications. In the long run, all this will help reduce the incidence of diseases and mortality rate.