In Russia, there is a shortage of drugs for the treatment of people with HIV

Russian HIV patients report interruptions in the provision of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in the facilities of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency. “Kommersant” writes about it.

As noted in the public movement “Patient control”, due to the lack of drugs, patients have to change the treatment regimen and, in particular, return to therapy options that had serious side effects.

Also, the patients said that they were refused timely tests – for the level of viral load or indicators of immune status.

“Patient Control” notes that such interruptions are not happening for the first time, experts see the reason for this in the fact that since 2020, the FMBA of Russia has been removed from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health of Russia. regional ministries cannot influence the medical supply of medical institutions.

FMBA recognized the problem and stated that it was solving the problem in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.

Pharma market analyst Nikolay Bespalov said in a conversation with “Kommersant” that interruptions and ARV therapy are observed not only in FMBA institutions.

“Last year, the budget for the purchase of an appropriate set of ARV drugs was exhausted, including due to the transfer of patients from old and ineffective drugs to more expensive therapy. The problem was partly solved through the budget of specific medical institutions, regional programs, etc., but for of its systemic solution, the volume of federal funding must be radically revised,” he said.

According to Kommersant, in 2024, out of 61 auctions for the purchase of drugs for HIV therapy, 17 did not take place – the suppliers did not enter the auction. The Ministry of Health was unable to purchase 107,000 annual courses of drugs for a total of about one billion rubles. According to experts, the reason was low prices, at which suppliers are not ready to sell drugs.

• According to official statistics, about one and a half million people live with HIV in Russia – this is approximately 1% of the population. With regular use of antiretroviral drugs, HIV-positive people live a normal life until old age, become non-contagious to others and give birth to healthy children.