On the order of Alexander Zhilkin, governor of Astrakhan Region, the chairman of the regional government, Konstantin Markelov, recently visited the Astrakhan Pharmaceutical Plant, at which it is planned to begin large-scale pharmaceutical production, reports the governor’s press service.         

Today, 50 specialists work in the Astrakhan Pharmaceutical Plant.  Not so long ago, the plant produced 180 types of medicines. The range is now down to 22, as a result of tougher federal legislation, including on financial expenditure.  The plant is the only one in Astrakhan Region upon the basis of which it is possible to begin large-scale production of medicines. 

”The president has set an objective of producing products to replace imports of food products and medicines. This is why the leadership of Astrakhan Region is seriously working on developing the pharmaceutical industry. The region’s Ministry of Health has been tasked with creating a programme for the development of pharmaceutical production,” says Konstantin Markelov.        
           
The prime minister of Astrakhan recognises that this is a major undertaking - all the more so as the plant has several problems.  The first challenge is to minimise the dependence on supplies of raw materials from other regions, and at the same time to develop production.     
   
With the right organisation, the medicines produced in Astrakhan Region could, in the opinion of Mr. Markelov, take a share of the Astrakhan and Russian markets.   
“A project is currently being prepared to develop production in Astrakhan Region, in which a separate global target programme for developing pharmaceutical production needs to be outlined”, says Konstantin Markelov. 

“The region has good partners ready to invest in pharmaceutical production, all the more so as it is profitable. We need to modernise production and expand the range of products, find new types of products, involve science, and establish small enterprises. The Russian government is preparing a programme to develop pharmaceutical production, and the Astrakhan Region intends to actively participate in it.”