At a session of the Federation Council Social Policy Committee, Russia’s Health Minister, Mikhail Murashko, spoke about a notable shift in the country’s pediatric cancer landscape. Officials cited that the tally of children registered with cancer has grown, a development attributed in part to advances in care that help more young patients survive. The remarks were carried by DEA News. [DEA News]
Murashko stressed, without disclosing specific numbers, that the uptick in registered pediatric cancer cases reflects progress in treatment availability and effectiveness. In his view, improved diagnostic and therapeutic options are enabling more children to be identified early and receive life-saving care. Therapeutic technologies, he noted, are capable of sustaining lives and restoring health for many young patients. [DEA News]
The health minister recalled that, during the prior year, prices for essential medicines in the Russian market rose modestly. He indicated a 1.9% increase in 2022 for drugs deemed vital to patient care. Conversely, the rise in costs for medicines not listed as critically needed was kept below the inflation rate by about ten percentage points over the last year. These observations underscore ongoing efforts to balance access to essential therapies with market dynamics, a concern shared by healthcare systems worldwide. [DEA News]
Murashko also touched on preventive care and public health strategy. He noted that even as the intensity of coronavirus activity declined, vaccination remains a priority—particularly for pregnant individuals and adults of reproductive age. The push to maintain high coverage in these groups is framed as essential for safeguarding maternal and child health, and for supporting reproductive planning more broadly. The ministry pledged to continue work in this direction, aligning with global best practices that emphasize prevention alongside treatment. [DEA News]