Fears in Russia over pharmaceutical supplies

Russia is running low on insulin and other important medical supplies produced abroad, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday, including raw materials key for production of drugs at home. 

The concerns come after a wave of Western sanctions over conflict in Ukraine began battering the Russian economy and dozens of major Western brands announced their departure from the market. 

The federal medical regulator Roszdravnadzor and a national association of pharmacies attributed insulin shortages to "urgent consumer demand," Kommersant said.   

The Kremlin-aligned business daily noted, however, that most diabetes medication used in Russia is also produced in the country and there was no disruption to production and distribution chains.

Several patients interviewed by Kommersant said there was a rush on insulin because other medical devices used by diabetics are produced abroad, and they expected a general price hike or shortages caused by sanctions. 

Western sanctions against Russia's military incursion in Ukraine have so far focussed on Russia banks and oil and gas, without targeting the medical sector. 

Still, Kommersant said, Russian companies could be left without imported raw materials and components. It reported that deliveries from Europe have all but stopped and those from China and India -- which account for up to 80 percent of imports -- have been hampered supply chain disruptions.