As of January 1, 2021, a total of 67,296 pharmacies were operating in Russia. (Only pharmacies purchasing goods from distributors were counted.) Compared to January 1, 2020, the number has decreased by 1,539. The downward trend started back in April 2020, a clear impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Russia, as well as the set of measures taken to stop the spread of the epidemic. Then the situation deteriorated due to general economic problems, including the decreasing incomes of the population, as well as the fact that it is no longer possible to impose UTII on labeled goods.

In 2020, the Central Federal District manufactured RUB bln 291.4 worth of ready-made pharmaceuticals (manufacturers’ prices, VAT included), accounting for almost 55% of the total drug production in Russia in monetary terms. However, the growth rate in monetary terms is somewhat lower than the national average – +20%, while the national average exceeded +25.6%.

January 2021 saw an occasion, curious in every aspect, which is the capitalization of the Russian Internet retailer Ozon exceeding the stock market valuation of the X5 Retail Group. It is noteworthy that the revenue of the companies for 2020 differs by more than 10 times. Moreover, Ozon did not plan to pay dividends in the near future. In fact, the company was given a truly huge credit of trust, which was naturally fueled by the boost of e-commerce last year.

For the Russian pharmaceutical market, 2020 seems to be the year of hype and defect. Both of these phenomena are absolute evil for all market participants, with distributors being no exception. However, wholesalers are obviously those of the few participants in the distribution system who can at least try to turn the situation to their advantage. Their opportunities here are quite extensive, ranging from demanding prepayment to imposing products that are not in demand, etc. This approach, well tested in the last years of the Soviet economy, found application in the new market realities, although it was mostly local in nature.

In 2020, Russian manufacturers produced RUB 534.3 bln worth of pharmaceutical drugs (manufacturer’s prices, VAT included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 25.6% higher than in 2019. The positive growth rates have been maintained for the second year in a row; it was +26.6% last year. The production volume in physical terms (units) amounts to 4.87 bln units, with the growth rate of +4.3%. If calculated in minimum dosage units (MDU), the growth rate is remarkably higher (+5.9%) and the production volume is 81.9 bln MDUs.

44% of Russian doctors are ready to take reasonable risks only if their work is assessed by an independent panel of experts, according to a survey conducted by the RNC Pharma analyst company and the platform for doctors Medvestnik.

In 2020, the sales of veterinary drugs in the Russian retail market amounted to RUB 20.3 bln (retail prices, VAT included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 0.2% lower than in 2019. The growth rate in physical terms (in minimum dosage units, MDU) is -3.4%, with the market volume of 191 bln MDUs.