Import substitution in anesthesiology and intensive care: experience of the capital and the regions

The problems associated with departure of many foreign companies from Russia had a strong negative impact on pharmaceutical industry, created a threat of drug shortages and pushed towards accelerated import substitution. Effectiveness of this approach is difficult to be assessed without feedback from physicians. Under the auspices of the «Federation of Anaesthesiologists and Reanimatologists» in collaboration with other professional medical communities, survey of anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists was conducted to obtain the most complete picture of import substitution in critical care medicine. Problems with provision were indicated for all major drug groups. Only 22.6% of participants do not experience a shortage of drugs for anesthesiology and intensive care. Assessment of advantages and disadvantages of generics on the example of inhalation anesthetics revealed positive perception by most participants. Survey data demonstrate possible successful import substitution in anesthesiology and critical care medicine in various regions of the Russian Federation.