The latest news from Russian pharma and healthcare including a big funding injection for primary care up to 2025, limits on pharma companies’ ability to patent other forms of already known chemical compounds in Russia, and the Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine’s geopolitical cachet.
Russia to allocate $7.4 bln for healthcare modernization in five years (TASS)
https://tass.com/society/1253139
Around 558 bln rubles ($7.4 bln) worth of federal and regional budget funds will be allocated for modernization of Russia’s primary care setting in five years, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said at a meeting with regional ministers and deputy governors.
Russia wants more generics of original drugs in domestic market (The Pharma Letter)
The Russian Ministry of Economy has prepared a draft order that will limit the ability of pharmaceutical companies to patent other forms of already known chemical compounds in Russia, according to recent statements by some senior state officials and local media, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.
Russia’s ‘geopolitical’ vaccine: Is Sputnik too good to be true? (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-sputnik-geopolitical-coronavirus-vaccine/
The homegrown shot gives Moscow the opportunity to inject itself into European politics.
Hungary becomes first EU country to use Russia’s Sputnik vaccine (Irish Times)
Hungary has become the first European Union member to start using Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine and hopes to deploy China’s Sinopharm vaccine soon, despite neither having received approval from the EU’s medicines regulator.
Russia’s virus cases cross 4M, new infections falling (AA)
Daily case figure at lowest point since mid-October, 1st Russian region makes masks optional for residents.
