Russia’s Ministry of Healthcare Readily Responds to RSPP President’s Request

In April 2013, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) received a request from NPO Petrovax Pharm, its associated member, to provide support and financial assistance for making updates to Russia’s National Vaccination Calendar so as to adjust it to the needs of the Russian healthcare system.

RSPP’s Commission on Healthcare discussed childhood immunisation against pneumococcal infection, which may cause serious diseases, disabilities, or death. All members of the Commission emphasised the urgency of the problem and the importance of solving it promptly.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is part of national immunisation schedules of 65 countries including Russia’s partners in the Customs Union – Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Today there is a fully functional production of the unique 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine established in Russia. The Prevnar 13 vaccine, manufactured at NPO Petrovax Pharm and Pfizer’s joint full-cycle production facility in compliance with GMP and ISO 9001 standards, is already registered in the Russian Federation (Registration Certificate LP-000798 of 03 October 2011).

Following the discussion by RSPP’s Commission on Healthcare, Alexander Shokhin, President of RSPP, addressed to Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev a request (1242/06 of 25 July 2013) for assistance in funding of childhood pneumococcus vaccination starting 2014.

Upon the instruction of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (DM-P12-5293 of 25 July 2013) and Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets (OG-P12-5532 of 01 August 2013), Alexander Shokhin’s request was promptly reviewed by the Ministry of Healthcare. In Letter 24-2/10/1-3999 of 22 August 2013, Deputy Minister of Healthcare Igor Kagramanyan advised that a draft of Federal Law “On introduction of amendments to Article 9 of Federal Law No. 157-FZ ‘On immunisation against infectious diseases’” of 17 September 1998 pertaining to extension of the National Vaccination Calendar through incorporation of the vaccination against pneumococcal infection had been submitted to the RF Government. Russia’s Federal Budget 2014–2016 is to include provisions for funding of all childhood pneumococcus vaccination campaigns.

A result of joint efforts of the Russian Government, RSPP, and the Ministry of Healthcare, the decision is bound to become a key factor reducing the risk of morbidity, disability, and mortality among infants. This will eventually improve the demographics nation-wide and contribute to lowering the direct and indirect costs for control of childhood infectious diseases.

© Department of Industry Associations Relations

Source: www.рспп.рф