Putin Admits Russia Has Serious Drug Shortages

President Vladimir Putin has admitted that there were shortages of some medicines in Russia, despite the country producing more of its own drugs, and suggested building up stocks of popular medicines to help meet demand, The Telegraph reported.

Photo Insert: Prescription drugs are exempt from Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine, but their delivery to Russia has been hit by transport, insurance, and customs hurdles caused by the war and other restrictive measures.

While prescription drugs are exempt from Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine, their delivery to Russia has been hit by transport, insurance, and customs hurdles caused by the war and other restrictive measures, industry figures say.

"There has been a shortage of some drugs, despite the fact that we saw production of pharmaceutical products in the (first) three quarters of last year grow by about 22%," Putin said in a televised meeting with government officials.

"Sixty percent of medicines on the market are domestic drugs. Nevertheless, a deficit has formed in some drugs, and prices have risen."

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