// Regulatory & Legal
Boosting access to rare disease treatments
The State Duma proposes amendments to expand the Seven High-Cost Diseases Program by adding six more orphan diseases with the highest treatment costs. Deputies also strive to alleviate the “orphan burden” of local budgets funding treatments of 24 rare diseases to avoid drug shortage for any beneficiary groups. They presented their legislative initiative to the patient community at a press conference on 23 October in Moscow. However, some speakers say that a relevant government decision can be made fast instead of a lengthy and complex lawmaking procedure, but the Ministry of Finance would not even discuss such an opportunity.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 1, cont’d p. 3]
// Pharma Retailing
Pharmacies seeking new association format
In the pharmacy segment, a new association has formed uniting four federal chains with 1315 sales outlets all over Russia. Dmitry Sokol and Oleg Milyutin, the owners of Pharmacopeika and Tvoy Doctor (Your Doctor) pharmacy chains who “fathered” this project, speak about a brand new association format of a partnership type where all members have equal rights, and are ready to consolidate business processes thus boosting margin ratios and gross profits. This move was prompted by the active consolidation of market players in the past 2 years.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 4]
// Regulatory & Legal
MoH prevails over FAS in a drug interchangeability action
On 19 October, the Court of Appeal refused to sustain the complaint filed by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) in relation to Moscow Court of Arbitration judgment to withdraw FAS’ order in respect of the Ministry of Health to go back on cepeginterferon alfa-2b bidding results. Thus, yet another agency confirmed that the FAS was not authorized to determine drug interchangeability.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 5]
// Health Management
Doctors call for rethinking drug coverage approach for patients with psoriasis
Psoriasis is one of the diseases in treatment of which a major step forward has been made over the past two decades. Doctors assert that the latest-generation medications provide for impressive treatment outcomes. However, a high cost impedes an efficacious treatment. To become entitled to free drug coverage, patients must document their disability, which is only possible at a late disease stage or in case of concomitant complications.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 6]
// Health Management
Patients seek to contribute to development of National Oncology Program
Just before the 21st All-Russia Oncology Congress, patient advocacy associations held their own congress with support from the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, medical communities, and pharmaceutical companies. The focus was on the National Oncology Program currently underway, however, none of the program developers spoke at the congress. Federal-level officials ignored the event, too, although some of them, including the minister of health, were on the agenda. But all this has not prevented the congress hosts and participants from discussing the hottest issues of cancer care, which, they hope, will make the foundations of the oncology program-to-be.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 7]
// Pharma Retailing
Siberian pharmacy chains unwilling to go private
State pharmacies of the Altay territory are pushing for consolidation. The largest state unitary enterprise Apteki Altaya will affiliate three local pharmacy chains through the end of the year to stand against the growing competition from federal players, and preserve drug coverage of the poorest population groups. Earlier this year, the lawmakers brought state pharmacies to their knees by forcing them to comply with the Federal Law # 44 on state drug procurement. Mergers of Altay territorial and corporatization of Barnaul municipal pharmacy chains currently underway is an echo of the cancelled law.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 9]
// Health Management
Attempts at criminalizing medical errors will force good specialists to quit private clinics
According to Pavel Brand, CMO of Semeynaya (Family) clinic chain, about 3% of patient complaints filed against private clinics are of an extremist character. Patients often make inflated demands as well as force clinics to violate the laws by bulldozing them and promising to involve law enforcement agencies and mass media in conflicts. At the same time, the law that clearly outlines the responsibilities of healthcare providers does not in any way regulate the responsibilities of patients.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 11]
// Health IT
Status quo of computerization in healthcare
Increasingly often, IT experts state that more than 30B RUB spent to date for computerization in healthcare, with the peak of IT implementation activities in 2011—2012, have failed to yield the results anticipated by the professional community. Experts from the Association for Development of Medical Information Technologies are sure that the process administration techniques are the main obstacle on the way to adequate computerization in this sector.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 13]
// Health Management
Private medical services gaining ground in Russia
According to RBC Market Research, as of 2017, the Russian paid medical services market will grow by 7.3% year-on-year. According to the Ministry of Economic Development estimates, in 2017—2018, real disposable income of Russia’s population will reverse to a slight growth, which will cause a gradual recovery of many consumer markets. Thus, the private medical services market growth will be driven not only by inflation but also by a higher turnover. Surveys indicate that the Russians are ready to pay for healthcare.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 13]
// Insight
Rating of Russian pharmacy chains, Q1-317
The North Caucasus Federal District that has never been either popular with external players or very active at a local level has suddenly attracted attention of AlphaRM analysts both by new pharmacy chains entering this market and internal strategic deals.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, pp. 18-20]
// Pharma Retailing
After Federal Law # 223 on state drug procurement prevails, corporatization of municipal and state pharmacies is no longer an issue in most regions
Drug procurement within the framework of Federal Law # 44 has become a thing of the past for state and municipal pharmacies. Some social activists took this as an argument in their fight against corporatization of state enterprises. However, certain pharmacy chains continued corporatization launched in the 1st half of 2017. PharmVestnik learnt on the example of Gubernskie Apteki and Novosibirsk Pharmacy Chain how municipal and state pharmacies clear up the lawmaking aftermath.
[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 22]
