Yekaterinburg residents form huge queue for insulin amid shortage
In Yekaterinburg, patients queued up for free medications, but not everyone was able to get them. Resident Elena showed how crowded pharmacy No. 277 at 107 Repina Street was on the afternoon of January 27, 2026. The woman claims that she still couldn«t get insulin. Other patients in the queue said that it was their fourth time coming for the medication, but they also left empty-handed.
Not everyone was able to obtain the medication despite waiting in the queue.
“My mother-in-law has been buying insulin with her own money since November 2025, even though she has subsidized prescriptions. It«s all because of the lack of drugs in pharmacies! It»s outrageous! Today, I also came to the pharmacy, not only was there a huge queue, but I also left without medication! There simply aren«t any,” Elena said indignantly.
The press service of the Sverdlovsk Region Ministry of Health explained to E1.RU that planned drug purchases have already been made this year and state contracts have been signed.
“Deliveries to the warehouse of the authorized pharmaceutical organization GAU SO «Pharmacy» have been made since December 15, 2025, and the delivery of medications to pharmacies in the Sverdlovsk Region is carried out regularly, on schedule. At the pharmacy organization «Yekaterinburgpharm,» located at 107 Repina Street, replenishment of drug stocks is done at least three times a week; thus, on January 27, medications in the necessary assortment, including insulin, were delivered, and the next delivery is scheduled for January 28, 2026,” the ministry explained.
Officials added that to provide medications for privileged categories of citizens, pharmacy specialists carry out all necessary measures for receiving goods, dispensing drugs, and notifying about drug arrivals.
Updated:
Currently, on the instructions of Deputy Governor – Minister of Health Tatiana Savinova, a commission from the Ministry is working at this pharmacy to ascertain the causes of the queue situation. We will inform about the decisions made based on the results.
Earlier, Urals residents had already complained about the absence of an important drug for diabetics. At that time, authorities also said that there were enough medications.
In mid-January, Yekaterinburg residents reported a shortage of medication for epilepsy and bipolar disorder.
