Analysis of pharmaceutical accessibility for the population of the Russian Federation: a regional perspective

Abstract

Importance: this article addresses a pressing issue in regional economics: ensuring the accessibility of medicines for the population in the Russian Federation. Disparities in socio-economic development across constituent entities, territorial specificities, and contemporary challenges necessitate an analysis of regional aspects of pharmaceutical provision, which profoundly impact public health and economic well-being. Purpose: the aim is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of factors influencing medicine accessibility in various Russian regions and to identify key problems within the regional pharmaceutical supply system. Research design: the study employed systemic and comparative approaches, utilizing methods of statistical and qualitative analysis. Data from official statistics provided by Rosstat, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, regional authorities, and analytical agencies (RNC Pharma, DSM Group, IMS Health, AlphaRM) were utilized. The research encompassed a systematic review of scientific publications, statistical data analysis, comparison of regional pharmaceutical provision indicators, and identification of disparities and trends. Results: significant interregional disparities in medicine accessibility were identified across infrastructural, financial, assortment, and informational parameters. Key problems identified include: pronounced disparities in the distribution of pharmacy organizations; the dependence of financial accessibility on household income levels and regional budgets; a limited product range coupled with high import dependence; and uneven digitalization of medical and pharmaceutical services. The findings underscore the importance of a comprehensive approach to improving the drug provision system and highlight the necessity of integrated collaboration among state structures, businesses, and the scientific community to enhance medicine accessibility across different regions of the country.