There is a shortage of multiple sclerosis drugs in five regions

In Moscow, Novosibirsk and Volgograd Regions, hospitals in Moscow, Novosibirsk and Volgograd Regions do not provide patients with multiple sclerosis with a drug with the active substance teriflunomide. And in the Sverdlovsk and Tomsk regions, people complained about the lack of a drug with the active substance ocrelizumab (Ocrevus from Swiss Roche), Izvestia found out after talking to patients.

According to the analytical company Headway Company, in January-October 2024, the Ministry of Health announced four auctions for teriflunomide - for 1.3 billion rubles - as part of the procurement of drugs under the program "14 VZN". But, according to the final documentation, the drugs were purchased for 50.5 million rubles.

Another auction - for Br8.2 million - has not been closed yet. It was announced by the Ministry of Health in late November. According to the unified information system, the last purchase of "Ocrevus" under the tender of the Ministry of Health was at the end of December 2023 - for 13.16 billion rubles.

The supplier was the company R-Pharm. In early November 2024, the Ministry placed tenders for the purchase of the drug for more than 2 billion rubles, but they have not been closed yet.

Nikolai Bespalov, development director of the analytical company RNC, suggested that the drug stocks could have run out now, which was the reason for the disruptions. He also noted that the disruptions could have arisen due to uneven distribution of drugs in the regions.

Read more in the exclusive material "Izvestia":

Therapeutic Passage: patients with multiple sclerosis lack drugs