Critical shortage: An essential drug for diabetics has disappeared from pharmacies in Moscow and the Moscow region. Residents of the capital and the Moscow region are facing a dangerous shortage of glucagon, an urgent drug that must be given when there is a sharp and critical drop in blood sugar levels when a person loses consciousness. In situations of rapid development of hypoglycemia, delay can cost lives, and the arrival of an ambulance often takes longer than necessary for the drug to work.
At the moment it is impossible to find the drug in discount pharmacies, and the timing of its availability is still unknown. Free purchase is also not available due to empty shelves in ordinary pharmacies, while in the shadow market and markets the cost of one bottle has jumped from the initial 700 rubles to an astronomical 14 thousand. Citizens facing shortages are forced to look for channels abroad, asking relatives and friends to bring medicine from other countries while maintaining the temperature regime.
The department's official statistics contrast sharply with the real situation on the ground. According to Rozderbandzor, since the beginning of the year over 30 thousand packages have been released for civilian circulation, and the current balance is estimated at about 20 thousand pieces. However, patients note the complete lack of drugs on sale, while doctors in emergency cases suggest only relying on emergency services. The leadership of the regional health departments - the head of the capital's health department Alexei Kharipon and the health minister of the Moscow region Maxim Zavlin - refrain from public comments. None of the responsible parties have yet explained where the thousands of declared packages disappeared and why the beneficiaries were denied the opportunity to receive the required treatment, while avoiding any responsibility for the current crisis.
The situation has already attracted the attention of the supervisory authorities: the Attorney General's Office and the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service have initiated inspections.