Not just anesthesia
The geopolitical situation, which caused numerous sanctions to be imposed on Russia, also affected the veterinary sector. In particular, the segment of anesthetic drugs was most severely affected, as the newspaper previously reported, as confirmed by Tatyana Golneva, veterinarian of the Vasilek veterinary clinic network. vedomosti With reference to Russian veterinary clinics. It was noted that there is a serious shortage of drugs for the anesthetic “Zoletil” and “Telazol”, produced by the French company Virbac and the American Zoetis, in Russia, but the companies have not officially announced that they have ceased their activities. country.
But the drugs disappearing from the Russian market are not only Zoletil and Telazol. Thus, according to Golneva, the imported drug Lysine, which is widely used for the treatment of acute infections in cats and dogs without surgical intervention, also disappeared.
“There have already been cases where this had a bad effect on the treatment of the animal. The last one: a very expensive cat with high reproductive value, developing uterine inflammation. There are two ways to treat the disease: either conservatively with the help of the lost Lysine, or by surgical removal of the uterus. Owners have the animal spayed. had to,” the vet explains.
Golneva adds that they feel helpless because they know that veterinary clinics can help more effectively in such cases, but they can no longer do so.
“People are in shock because breeding animals are expensive. “Such an unpleasant situation affects both animal owners and veterinarians very badly,” he said.
Import substitution is impossible
Golneva says the main problem in domestic veterinary medicine right now is that in most cases there is no option for import substitution.
“We have not yet learned how to produce them, there are no production facilities and the like in Russia. This applies to drugs of various drug groups,” he said.
Especially the doctor explains this with the example of Zoletil. If this drug is irretrievably lost, it will be extremely difficult to find a replacement for it. Analogues available on the Russian market have a much wider range of side effects and are almost never used, as they often lead to complications and even death.
“So, Russian anesthesia, unfortunately, is worse in quality. It would be a disaster for veterinary medicine if imported drugs for anesthesia were ever taken off the market,” says the doctor.
Veterinarian Aziz Alekberov agrees.
“In Russia there are segments that can be replaced, but without anesthesia. If there are any problems with Tilazole and Zoletil, it will put our four-legged friends in a very difficult position because there is nothing to work with,” he confirms.
Alternatively, Golneva names the development of epidural anesthesia as well as the use on animals of drugs used for anesthesia in human medicine. A similar proposal was put forward in October last year by Vladimir Burmatov, deputy chairman of the State Duma ecology committee. He said the day before that the State Duma is preparing to consider a bill that would expand the list of such veterinary drugs. But Golneva warns that if it is decided to use human drugs for anesthesia in veterinary medicine, it will present a number of difficulties.
“This is the so-called A-list, that is, drugs with a narcotic effect, but the use of such drugs in veterinary medicine is strict reporting forms and ampoules, clinics must obtain a license. This is a rather time-consuming procedure, now literally only a few clinics in Moscow are licensed to use these drugs, ”emphasizes the veterinarian, adding that small clinics will never be licensed to use this group of drugs due to storage. requirements.
As Doctor Alekberov explained, “Tilazol” and “Zoletil” are used by 85-90% of veterinarians. Occasionally, doctors, referring mainly to operations on rodents, use inhalation (gas) anesthesia and require a special drug – Isoflurane, which not everyone can afford. Replacing it with a human drug for anesthesia is also a greater risk.
“The ingredients in Tilazole and Zoletil are tiletamine and zolazepam, which can be used. If we talk about human anesthesia, then there are many drugs that use ketamine – it cannot be used in veterinary medicine,” he adds.
One way or another, Golneva doubts that complete import substitution is possible even in the long run in the veterinary industry.
“I have great respect for our country, but unfortunately the pharmaceutical industry is not its strongest place. For example, there are many drugs called “noshpa” and “drotaverine” generics – in Russia such drugs are enough, but of worse quality, ”compares the doctor.
The same applies to vitamins and anthelmintics. Theoretically, as Alekberov noted, it is easier to replace them with their domestic counterparts, but the quality will be worse.
“For example, there is Biopharm from the Netherlands and the Russian vitamins Shustrik. But Dutch is cheaper and better quality. The ingredients of each drug are the same, but you use ours and it doesn’t work. Or let’s start preparations for worms: domestic and imported “Milbex”. The constituent substance is the same, but only the imported medicine works, the local medicine does not,” says the doctor.
In addition, according to veterinarian Alekberov, in the context of import substitution, it is necessary to take into account the financial factor: imported drugs have a worldwide market, while Russian analogues are most likely to be distributed only to Russia, if they are produced. .
“This means that large investments will be needed. It is not yet clear when the manufacturer will cover the costs. There are so many questions about production,” he explains.
Prices will rise
Doctor Golneva says that current conditions naturally cause prices to rise. For comparison, there are now leftovers in warehouses, although there are still doubts about whether the drug Zoletila will be available on the Russian market in the future, but their price has already tripled.
“Previously, a bottle cost 4,000 rubles, but now it costs about 12,000 rubles. And it is unknown how much of it remains in warehouses, whether it will be imported. Half the cost of surgery is exactly anesthesia, and the increase in the cost of anesthesia will cause a huge increase in the cost of surgery – it is inevitable, ”says the doctor.
At the same time, the cost of services has not yet increased significantly, but in the near future it certainly will. In total, this has already doubled from the increase in the price of drugs, the cost of check-in, the increase in the purchase price of consumables – syringes, wipes, solutions, drugs.
“Accordingly, the cost of the services they are spent on will also increase. It is still difficult to estimate the percentage of price increases, ”says the veterinarian.
According to Golneva, the biggest increase in price is expected in the laboratory tests segment. This is explained by the previous purchase of reagents for analysis from abroad and the use of imported consumables and spare parts by laboratories.
“Perhaps laboratory diagnostics will become much more expensive as the prices of laboratory analyzers increase. And some major labs have announced that certain tests are temporarily suspended because there are no longer any tests, reagents, systems. Laboratories are also sounding the alarm,” says the expert.
Among other things, Golneva notes a sharp increase in the need for microchipping and vaccination of animals. According to the doctor, this is likely because people begin to leave the country more often. “The demand for chipping and grafting has definitely doubled. To smash even three times,” she says.
State aid to veterinary medicine is also not yet available.
“I work in a private clinic and my husband works in a public hospital and so far nothing, no help has been offered,” says Golneva.