Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Extends Approved Drug List After Painkiller Shortages

Russia has ruled to increase the number of drugs allowed to be used in the country's pain-relief medication, a statement on the government’s website announced Monday.

The planned move hopes to ease patients' access to painkillers. Other proposed changes will see a revision to dosing guidelines, new approaches to the pain treatment and simplifying the drugs prescribing procedure.

Cancer patients in Moscow have faced shortages of certain medications including painkillers, the Kommersant newspaper reported last month. More expensive drugs have been in particularly short supply, even when prescribed by a doctor.

Moscow's Health Department are yet to comment on the changes.

Read more