At Kalashnikov’s gunpoint
State Duma’s Committee for Public Health out of humor with Rospotrebnadzor
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 1, cont’d p. 2]
“Innocent victims”
On the eve of All-Russia People’s Front forum, experts analyzed causes of growing mortality in Russia
Prior to the All-Russia People’s Front (ARPF) forum convened on September 4, the Russian Information Agency AMI held a roundtable discussion titled “Mortality in the Russian Federation: ratio of medical and nonmedical factors” on the initiative of the demographer community. According to Igor Lanskoy, the Russian Health Minister’s Counselor for Communications and one of the roundtable moderators, the mortality growth topic has come to the fore all of a sudden and “slightly illogically”. The agenda announced the participation of demographic experts; however, they were not the only speakers. At the end, the roundtable participants decided to submit to the government a document summing up the actions to decrease mortality in Russia.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 3]
Tangential wound
All-Russia People’s Front failed to abolish healthcare reforms
The All-Russia People’s Front (ARPF) forum with the participation of the President of the Russian Federation has carried its work to completion. A few weeks prior to its start, it was rumored that the ARPF report regarding the healthcare state would put a final point on this industry modernization. A no joking battle had been expected between the reform supporters and opponents. However, it looked like all have “burned out” prior to the Day D. The dialog between the authorities and public was tense but not full of aggressive criticism or ambitious statements. Experts differed in opinion when summing up all said in the two days of the forum. Some heard a lot of constructive proposals while others thought that the event was a “big nothing”. The ARPF has failed to reach its goal as President Vladimir Putin has rejected the Front’s idea to curtail healthcare reforms.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 1, cont’d pp. 4-5]
Line of defense
The officials expressed their points of view regarding healthcare issues discussed at the All-Russia People’s Front forum.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 6]
Doing away with “comfort zone”
Representatives of the local Pharma took an active part in the All-Russia People’s Front forum on healthcare. BIOCAD CEO Dmitry MOROZOV conveyed to PharmVestnik observer Oxana Baranova what conclusions were made by the business community after the event.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 6]
Private label? Not quite…
Pharmacy chains found a way to boost profits
Pharmaceutical retailers would often complain of their low margins. A few years ago some pharmacy chains decided to stop complaining and remove the problem at least in part. This is how the new term “conditional private label” emerged in the pharmaceutical market. PharmVestnik analyzes potential threats and opportunities associated with such not quite private label.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 7]
Mind the closing doors
Pharma industry has a lot of questions to regulators
The Federal law No. 429 amending the Federal law No. 61 “On Drug Circulation” made the pharmaceutical community sit up as there were too many amendments that needed a transition period. Notwithstanding the fact that the amendments were approved as far back as December 2014, the issues regarding drug registration and their interchangeability as well as the GMP Inspectorate have not been regulated so far. However, the officials pacify the community stating that nobody is going to close the doors on pharmaceutical companies.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 9]
No mid-field fight
Ministry of Health to centralize state bidding for high-cost drugs
The segment of state bidding for purchasing tuberculosis, HIV, and viral hepatitis drugs faces globalization. Inspectors say that granting the status of a single state supplier to the National Immunobiological Company (Natsimbio), which is Rostech’s affiliated company, is a done deal. However, they argue about the efficiency of such move.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 10]
Zero on five-point scale
Pentaxim vaccine disappeared from Russian market
PharmVestnik received a number of reports stating that Pentaxim and Infanrix vaccines have been missing from Russia’s pharmacies and clinics for a long time. According to RNC Pharma, Pentaxim was not imported to Russia in 2015. PharmVestnik has dealt with the situation.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 11]
There are those irreplaceable
Officials failed to hurl back from HIV patients via the media
The situation at Moscow City Center for HIV Prevention and Treatment has caused a massive public outcry in the media. The center’s patients complain about side effects following the use of the local first-line therapies that have substituted the imported drugs since this June. Moscow Ministry of Health and the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare and Social Development (Roszdravnadzor) were fast to post a press release disproving such complaints; the agencies also stated that imported drugs would be further substituted by local generics with proven efficacy. The patients insist on a profound monitoring of these drugs’ quality and efficacy. There is hope that they have been heard.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 1, cont’d p. 12]
Real life
Do clinical trials always reflect real life?
Within the framework of the recent European Society of Cardiology conference in London, Bayer hosted a session on analysis of weaknesses and strengths of “real-life” and “academic” clinical trials. PharmVestnik Editor-in-Chief Herman Inozemtsev was present at this session and decided to share his thoughts on the issue.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 13]
No advertising growth ahead
Report on drug advertising in specialized printed editions, H115
According to the quarterly research of Contenta Medical Index “Drug advertising monitoring and content analysis of scientific articles in specialized medical and pharmaceutical editions”, in the 1st quarter of 2015, the drug advertising market associated with specialized printed editions reached 611 mn RUB, which indicates a 5% growth year on year.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, pp. 14-15]
Free of charge, but not for all
Creating fake barriers to covering children with free drugs
Covering children under 3 years old with drugs at the expense of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund has become one of the most widely discussed topics in the Russian regions. Regional prosecutor's offices reveal a lot of violations regarding this social guarantee and believe that very few parents are aware of the opportunity to receive treatment for their children compensated from the regional budgets.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 16]
Doubtful NSAIDs
Pharmacist’s oversight resulted in moral damage compensation case
Krasnodar Territory Arbitration Court complied with the city of Armavir prosecutor’s suit regarding the imposition of administrative sanctions on OJSC Apteka # 300 (Pharmacy # 300) for selling a drug past its sell-by date. Now the pharmacy is liable in tort for negligence and will have to defend a suit for a moral damage compensation case: as the drug has not relieved pain, the patient has been suffering both morally and physically. The court judgment may become a test case.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 17]
Fine gesture
In the city of Irkutsk, the drug costs are compensated to the citizens with socially significant diseases who are not entitled to privileges. Such compensation is made from the federal and regional budgets. This approach makes it possible for citizens to receive high-cost drugs prescribed by their doctors.
[PharmVestnik # 28, 15/09/2015, p. 17]
