Russia’s Putin says pharmaceutical prices growing

MOSCOW, Feb 10 (PRIME) -- Prices for a number of pharmaceutical products in Russia are currently growing, President Vladimir Putin said at a government meeting Wednesday.

“It is not a secret that we are registering a growth in prices for a number of items, including vital medicines,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets said prices for vital medicines, which are regulated by the government, grew 8.8% in 2015.

The Russian pharmaceutical market amounted to 987 billion rubles in 2015, she also said. Exports were at U.S. $600 million.

The Healthcare Ministry and the Industry and Trade Ministry are currently developing mechanisms to support production of affordable, inexpensive medicines, Golodets also said.

Golodets also said that the import substitution program in the pharmaceutical industry had worked out and Russia fully ensured itself with the influenza vaccine.

(78.6805 rubles – U.S. $1)

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