Pharmacies in Russia are already deficient in insulin and other foreign-made drugs to treat diabetes. This was reported today by the Russian newspaper “Kommersant”, talking about the lack of raw materials for the production of drugs in the country, reports Agence France-Presse.
The Federal Service of Roszdravnadzor and the Pharmacy Association see the cause of the insulin shortage in the “rush of consumer demand”, noting that most drugs for diabetics are produced in Russia and there is no cause for concern, the newspaper said.
Respondents explained the increased demand by the fact that other medical devices used by diabetics are manufactured abroad and stockpile for fear of shortages or sharp price increases.
Western sanctions do not apply to the pharmaceutical industry, but Kommersant predicts that Russian companies may be left without imported raw materials and components.
According to the newspaper, Europe has virtually cut off supplies, and supplies from China and India (almost 80 percent of imported pharmaceutical raw materials) will be delayed due to supply chain disruptions.
Local stocks are expected to run out in 3-6 months.
Russia has long depended on Western laboratories and launched an import substitution program to become an exporting country. Sanctions and counter-sanctions exchanged between Moscow and the West stimulate these efforts, but domestic production still depends on imported raw materials.