MINSK, 20 November (BelTA) – Belarus will increase the output of medicines for antiretroviral therapy (ART), Belarus' Healthcare Minister Valery Malashko said at a regional conference in Minsk, BelTA has learned.
“Domestically manufactured medicines account for 66% of all antiretroviral medications used in Belarus. The lineup of registered ART drugs produced in Belarus features 10 names and will be expanded taking into account new production venues that are under construction now. The ultimate goal is to start producing all ART medicines Belarus needs by 2020,” Valery Malashko said.
According to head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Belarusian State Medical University Igor Karpov, domestic companies meet a substantial part of the needs for HIV medicines. There is even some competition among domestic producers in this segment. Now the country is registering patients for the antiretroviral therapy, which has proved to be very efficient. The treatment will not only save a patient, but will also give them an opportunity to work normally.
According to Valery Malashko, the country is establishing a virtually new segment of the pharmaceutical industry with highly profitable production facilities meeting international standards. Today domestic medicines account for 53.7% of all drugs sold in Belarus in monetary terms.
Minsk is hosting the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Regional Consultation on Expanding Access to Affordable and Quality Assured Antiretroviral and Antituberculosis medicines on 20-22 November. Participants of the forum discuss access to efficient treatment, diagnostics and prevention of infectious diseases, like tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis. These diseases represent a serious issue in all the countries of the region.
