Over the course of the year, pharmacies reported a notable 20% drop in the variety of imported drug types. These findings come from RBC, which cites a study conducted by the DSM Group, a key analytical firm in the sector.
Since 2020, the assortment of imported medicines available in domestic pharmacies has been shrinking, a trend analysts link to the growing demand for more affordable Russian counterparts. This shift reflects both pricing pressures and consumer preferences for locally sourced options, shaping the retail pharmaceutical landscape in the country.
The study highlights that in the first seven months of 2023, Russian pharmacies carried about 6.4 thousand imported drug products. This figure marks a 20.3% decrease compared with the same period in the previous year. By July 2022, the catalog of imported medicines stood at roughly 7.7 thousand, underscoring a continuing contraction in the international drug supply seen in the domestic market.
Across a five-year horizon, the range of imported drugs in Russian pharmacies has fallen by nearly 36%, a trend that industry observers attribute to a combination of regulatory changes, supply chain realignments, and consumer pivots toward domestic or lower-cost alternatives.
Earlier reports noted an uptick in demand for nutritional supplements used to address hangovers, with increases surpassing 55% since the start of 2023. This shift illustrates how consumer behavior can move quickly in response to price dynamics, availability, and evolving lifestyle considerations.
In related assessments, researchers from the former Higher School of Economics indicated that a broad portion of the Russian pharmaceutical sector faces significant workforce vulnerability. The implications touch on talent retention, knowledge transfer, and the capacity to manage drug shortages during periods of market reconfiguration.