Drug security discussed at National Healthcare Congress 2024

The ‘Drug Security’ expert discussion was held at the 3^rd National Congress with International Participation “National Healthcare” as part of the ‘Affordable Modern Medical Production’ track.

The Congress was organized by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The organizing partner of the event was the Russian Research Institute of Health.

Drug security depends in large part on the availability, effectiveness, and quality of a country’s medicines, and current geopolitical challenges have made it a priority for public healthcare. The need to prevent shortages, provide uninterrupted access, ensure the technological sovereignty of national pharmaceutical production, and fulfill state guarantees for the provision of medicines set the agenda for the national departments involved.

The session was moderated by Deputy and Member of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Aleksandr Petrov: “Globalization and rapid technological advances lend discussions on drug security special importance as we seek to identify and minimize the risks associated with the use of new drugs and technologies and develop effective strategies to ensure their safety. By working together, stakeholders enable transparent, reliable quality control, inspiring greater trust among patients in medical services and medicines and creating safer, more effective treatments through innovation and research. At the end of the day, discussions of this kind contribute to the sustainability and security of our healthcare system and equip it to meet modern challenges and ensure a higher quality of life for all.”

Also attending the session were Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Sergey Glagolev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Ekaterina Priezzheva, Acting General Director of the Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Valentina Kosenko, Executive Director of the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Larisa Matveeva, President of the Velfarm Group of Companies Lyudmila Scherbakova, Commercial Director of Alexion Pharmaceuticals Alexey Kosolapov, Medical Director of Sun Pharma ‘Ranbaxy’ Victoria Vargina, and Managing Director for Budget Sales at NPO Petrovax Pharm Vladislava Torshina.

Participants discussed regulatory decisions, including patent regulation, and mechanisms for simplifying registration procedures to speed up and ensure the uninterrupted release of drugs into civil commerce, how to balance the interests of state and business and encourage productive dialogue among stakeholders to prepare more effective drug security strategies together, and Russian and global experience and best practices in the regulation of drug circulation and their influence on its further development.

The Congress took place on 28 October 2024 at the Lomonosov Cluster of the Sparrow Hills ISTC of Moscow State University and on 29 October 2024 at the Plenary Hall of the State Kremlin Palace.