Putin calls for raising production of medicines amid pandemic

MOSCOW, Nov 18 (PRIME) – Russians should not be blamed for the high demand for medicines during the coronavirus pandemic, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday and expressed hope that production of medicines will increase.

“As for the rush demand. Yesterday nobody needed anything. Today there is nothing. Well, we all know that this is possible. And we should not shift the blame to the people here. Well, I understand that this is not easy, but you must always be ready for this. Therefore, I hope a lot for what you’ve said about the possibility of increasing production,” Putin said commenting on the words of Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov.

Putin also asked manufacturers to increase production of medical vehicles as quickly as possible.

“As for the passenger cars, like I said, it will be possible to deliver about 2,000 vehicles until the end of the year promptly. Plus, about 140 ambulances, if such a decision is made additionally. And in January we will be able to ship over 3,500 cars, namely passenger cars,” Manturov said.

Putin instructed to work on this issue with Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova. He said that first of all, it is necessary to deliver cars to the regions where the situation is especially difficult.

Putin said that it is necessary to avoid a situation when someone gets profit from the funds allocated to fight the coronavirus.

He also instructed to put the squeeze on each of the problematic issues in the fight against coronavirus, including the lack of ambulances.

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