The Roszdravnadzor press service has clarified that Russia does not face a shortage of medicines that share international nonproprietary names. A temporary absence of a specific trade name in a pharmacy does not indicate a shortage, because medicines containing the same active substance deliver the same therapeutic effect. This stance was communicated through a Roszdravnadzor briefing and echoed by the agency’s information channels.
Officials also pointed out that Russian pharmacies currently maintain adequate supplies of two drugs with widely used names, Osteogenon and Mesalazine, which are not registered internationally under standard names. In practical terms, the active ingredients in these medicines are available in quantity to meet ongoing demand, even if certain brand names are not available at every outlet during short periods of stock changes.
Data from early 2023 shows the scale of distribution for these medications. In the first quarter, more than 58,000 packages of Osteogenon and around 383,800 packages of Mesalazine entered civil circulation. These figures illustrate ongoing production and distribution activity, reinforcing the message that the supply of essential medicines remains stable for patients relying on these therapies.
Former Deputy Health Minister Sergey Glagolev acknowledged that there is no shortage of medicines containing the active substances themselves in the Russian Federation, although certain trade names may be temporarily scarce. His remarks underscore a core principle: the availability of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and their therapeutic equivalents in the broader market rather than the persistence of a specific brand at all times.
Glagolev also highlighted collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the national government to maintain accurate, real-time inventories of vital and essential medicines. This coordinated effort aims to ensure that healthcare providers can access timely information about stock levels, enabling them to make informed decisions about procurement, patient care, and substitution where necessary. In practical terms, the system is designed to prevent gaps in treatment and to support continuity of care for patients who depend on these medicines as part of their standard regimens.
From a broader perspective, the conversation around medicine availability emphasizes two important realities for consumers in Canada, the United States, and beyond. First, trade-name fluctuations do not automatically equate to a short supply of the active compound. Second, robust inventory tracking and cross-ministry coordination help ensure that therapeutic options remain accessible, even when a preferred brand is temporarily unavailable. For patients, this means discussing generic alternatives with clinicians or pharmacists when a familiar brand is out of stock, rather than assuming a shortage of the active ingredient itself. Physicians and pharmacists often rely on authorized substitutions that preserve efficacy and safety while maintaining continuity of therapy. This approach helps sustain confidence in medication access, regardless of regional brand availability, and supports the overarching aim of uninterrupted patient care.