Russian aggression against Ukraine has been ongoing for almost a year. The decision to attack our eastern neighbour was the cause of the decisive action of Western companies to withdraw their business from the Russian Federation. MedTech companies are among them. Limited access to medical equipment is hitting Russian hospitals hard. Operating tables, hospital beds, delivery beds or patient transport trolleys no longer come from the West. The facilities on the aggressor’s territory are forced to order medical equipment of domestic production or from manufacturers who have not opposed the activities of the federal authorities.
Physicians, medicines, medical equipment – this is what the Russian health service lacks
Russians are affected by Western sanctions in almost every area of life. Above all, the lack of access to Western goods, which are difficult or even impossible to produce on the territory of the federation, is burdensome. This is also the case when it comes to access to the health service, which, since the beginning of the war, has faced not only staff shortages but also a lack of access to medicines and specialised equipment. Medical equipment imported from abroad, e.g.: from Poland, has regularly been supplied to Russian hospitals until lately. The situation changed when foreign companies withdrew from trade with Russia. Not only is medical equipment from the West no longer supplied to Russian hospitals, but it is also not serviced.
The situation is tragic
An independent Russian portal warns that the situation is very serious. Many physicians have left the country and others have been conscripted into the army. The lack of a unified medical aid system makes it difficult to manage the situation. There is a shortage of medicines in the country, both specialised medicines, which patients with chronic diseases cannot do without, and ordinary ibuprofen[1]. Medical equipment is also not available.
– Due to the above, it is not possible to rely on statistical data but rather on the information from Russian physicians and other medical staff as well as suppliers of medicines and medical equipment, who indicate that the situation is tragic,” the portal reported[2].
Outdated medical equipment for Russians
Russian health facilities also struggle with a lack of access to specialised medical equipment. Operating tables, hospital or delivery beds are no longer imported from abroad. The lack of equipment results in downtime in the health service and the lack of possibility to provide proper care to citizens. Limited access to modern technologies forces Russia to often use old medical equipment, the quality of which leaves much to be desired. The medical equipment purchased by Russian facilities before the war requires servicing and proper maintenance. Obviously, the lack of service and spare parts, which are only available from the medical equipment manufacturers, means the risk of breakdowns and downtime.
Old operating tables – such medical equipment is available in many Russian hospitals.
Polish medical equipment manufacturer in solidarity with Ukraine
Marek Suczyk, Vice President of Famed Żywiec, talks about how the Russian aggression against Ukraine has affected the supply of medical equipment to that country. Before the war, the Polish manufacturer of medical equipment regularly sold its medical equipment in the Russian Federation. However, the attack on Ukraine resulted in a withdrawal from trade relations with the aggressor.
— Due to the attack on Ukraine, we have decided to suspend trade relations with the customers in Russia. The decision entailed the cancellation of the confirmed orders as well as new requests, e.g. a project involving dozens of operating tables. The situation affected our partners directly. It made them realise clearly that the sanctions were actually taking place and were not just idle talk, as was expected. All partners parted ways with us with the hope of restoring business relations in the future.
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Medical equipment manufactured in Poland is not available in Russia.
At this point, it is difficult to predict what the situation of the health service will look like in the near future. Certainly, restoring the health service to the pre-war condition and improving relations with Western producers will require a complete change in the conduct of Russian decision-makers.
Sources:
[1] https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/swiat/artykuly/8626663,rosja-sluzba-zdrowia-lekarze-leki.html
[2] https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/swiat/artykuly/8626663,rosja-sluzba-zdrowia-lekarze-leki.html
