Volgograd Mother Denied Imported Arthritis Drug for Son

The mother of a 4-year-old son with arthritis cannot get subsidized imported medicine for him in Volgograd. According to Kristina, she went to the pharmacy for the drug, but instead was given a Russian analog. The woman refused to take this medicine because she fears it could worsen her child«s condition. As a result, she had to search for and buy injections with her own money. One package, as Kristina says, costs 22,000 rubles (about $240 at current rates).

“My child was diagnosed with arthritis at four years old. We first received treatment at Hospital No. 8. There, we were prescribed a basic drug. Against the background of this drug, severe deteriorations began; it didn«t help. We were sent to Moscow. There, we were prescribed a genetically engineered modified drug »Etanercept«. We returned to Volgograd, applied for disability. We started receiving this drug by prescription. It is imported. Against the background of this drug, the child showed improvements,” Kristina told V1.RU. “In December, I went to the pharmacy to get it. I come — and they give us a Russian analog. I refused it. I will not risk my child and I will not conduct experiments either. I don»t know what this drug is or how it will act. I have already seen my child suffer from pain when his joints are inflamed. It is very scary.”

According to Kristina, she had to travel to various pharmacies in the city and region to find the necessary medicine for her son. In December, he will take the imported drug, but what will happen in January, the woman does not know.

“We barely found this drug in Gorodishche, bought it with our own money. One package costs 22,000 rubles (about $240 at current rates),” the woman says. “I have a question: why were we first given the original drug, and then suddenly switched to an analog without our knowledge? Doctors say: ‘Well, that was the procurement, we have nothing to do with it.’ I don«t know what to do. We need to take this drug for at least a year, or maybe longer. Everything will depend on the child»s condition. We don«t have the ability to buy it monthly because we have three small children.”

The regional health committee, in response to a query from V1.RU, reported that they plan to hold a consultation on this situation with the participation of the boy«s mother.

“In accordance with current federal legislation, the prescription and procurement of medicinal drugs for privileged categories of citizens is carried out by a medical worker according to the international nonproprietary name (hereinafter INN). And only in exceptional cases, by decision of the medical commission for vital indications, procurement is carried out according to the trade name,” explained the regional health department. “Specifically, in this case, no decision was made by the medical commission to prescribe the drug to the child by trade name for vital indications. Therefore, the medical worker prescribed the drug according to the INN. The main active substance in the Russian drug is the same. It is certified and has passed all necessary checks. On December 11, due to the mother«s refusal to receive the drug that arrived at the pharmacy as part of state procurements, the clinic administration provided all detailed explanations on the procedure for prescribing and issuing medicinal drugs. There is no change in therapy.”