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Domestic production of medical equipment and supplies has been growing steadily over the last several years. In 2001, for example, it grew by 14 percent. The most dynamic sub sectors included devices for
endoscopy, laparoscopy, electrosurgical instruments, polymeric and glass medical products, disposable syringes and other disposable products.
In the last two to three years, because of the change in demand from imported to locally produced medical devices and supplies as well as some types of equipment, a significant number of Russian enterprises managed to strengthen their positions and increase their share in the market. Russia started to develop and launch into production new types of advanced medical equipment and instruments used in diagnostics and treatment of serious diseases like artificial kidney devices with non-kidney blood clean-up; medical monitors; electrocardiographs; endoscopic and laparoscopic equipment, MRI
Tomographs, Digital X-Ray Equipment for Fluorographical Tests and TB Diagnostics; Ultrasound Medical Scanner, and others.
The above mentioned recently developed medical equipment and devices are successfully competing with their Western equivalents within the country due to high technical standards and relatively low price. Generally only 25-30 percent of medical equipment produced in Russia can compete internationally. Locally made medical equipment and devices and from three to five times less expensive than similar Western equipment, although they are sometimes inferior to Western medical equipment in terms of design, efficiency and after sale services.
Russia has been recently developing important technological equipment and lines used in production of medical equipment. Such technological lines include automatic equipment to produce needles for disposable syringes
(TZMOI, Tyumen), technology to sharpen cutting instruments and forceps made of titanium, technology to put biologically inertial coating on medical instruments, new technology in glass lenses, including protective lenses for work with computers, glasses for drivers who drive in conditions of limited vision and light, etc.
Russia still does not produce many important technological line which are in demand by local manufacturers. This includes automatic lines to produce disposable syringes, IV solutions, transfusion and infusion sets, and test kits.
Russia has proclaimed a gradual upgrade of the medical industry to Good Manufacturing Practice
(GMP) standards by 2005. However, lack of financing as well as insufficient experience and education on GMP can delay the transition of the industry to GMP standards beyond the proclaimed goals.
THIRD COUNTRY IMPORTS
In 2000 imports were 470 million dollars while in 1998 they were 952 million dollars. The 2001 figure of 750 million dollars is still less then the level achieved before the crisis.
Foreign companies are recommended to register their trademarks in Russia. Otherwise, in case of counterfeiting they are most likely to lose court cases because the Russian courts would be very protective of the trademarks registered in Russia, even though they may belong to foreign manufacturers and be registered illegally in the name of Russian agents or distributors.
(Source : US Embassy Moscow.)
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