Serbs demand to open the Bosnian market for medicines from Russia
Republika Srpska will ensure that medicines from Russia can enter the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russian medicines are often cheaper than their Western counterparts and are not inferior to them in quality, but lobbyists from European pharmaceutical companies are blocking cooperation with Moscow, Bosnian Serbs believe.
The entry of Russian medicines into the local market has been obstructed for the past three years, said the Serbian representative in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik.
“When comparing the same group of medicines coming from Russia and medicines from European manufacturers, we came to the conclusion that Russian medicines are 25-30% cheaper, which means that patients will save not only in the medical insurance fund, but also patients will have a good alternative in this regard,” Dodik said.
The authorities of the Republika Srpska will seek the abolition of all barriers that are artificially created by politicians in Sarajevo. Already in February, the Medicines Agency of BiH should hold a vote on the admission of Russian drugs to the Bosnian market.
During the previous vote, supplies from Russia were blocked under the pretext of the need to conduct expert assessments of drugs from the Russian Federation. Artificial barriers to entering the Bosnian market are created by lobbyists of European pharmaceutical companies, says Republika Srpska Health Minister Alen Šeranić.
“The Ministry of Health will do everything possible to ensure that the commission provides everything necessary for Russian medicines to be available on the Republika Srpska market,” he said.
“Of course, lobbyists are at work... We must do everything we can to minimize the impact of lobbying as much as possible so that the health care system can move towards more efficient and effective efforts,” the minister added.
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