Picture of the Day: A digest of the main news from November 10, 2025
Main
The Russian Government has approved a Strategy for the Development of Industrial Rehabilitation Products through 2030, continuing a thematic project in effect since 2017. Within five years, the rehabilitation industry is expected to achieve a sustainable level of development, enabling the provision of high-quality, effective, and safe technical rehabilitation equipment to people with disabilities. The total production volume of rehabilitation products is expected to increase to 105.6 billion rubles by 2030, and the share of Russian rehabilitation products in the domestic market to 64%. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is expected to develop specific measures for implementing the strategy over the next six months.
#2 The "second-odds-out" rule may be extended to all medical devices in the near future. This initiative was put forward by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the idea received "conceptual support" from Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, who oversees social affairs, as well as from relevant agencies—the Ministry of Health and Roszdravnadzor, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ekaterina Priezzheva. The ministries are currently implementing an order to analyze the potential risks of implementing this decision. The "second-odds-out" rule establishes protectionist measures for domestic products in the public procurement market: if even one bid for a product from the EAEU appears in a tender, all bids for imported products are automatically rejected. As of November 2025, 110 types of medical devices have been included in the "second-odds-out" rule; the Ministry of Health had previously proposed adding another 200 types.
Regulators
The Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia (FAS Russia) published a letter addressed to its regional offices and state and municipal customers. In the circular, the regulator clarified the procurement procedure for drugs whose dosage forms are not included in the VED List. The service explained that in cases where the proposed dosage form is equivalent to the one included in the list and a maximum ex-works price has been registered for it, there are no obstacles to purchasing such drugs under government contracts. The FAS deemed it unlawful to reject bids from procurement participants due to the absence of a certain dosage form from the VED List or the State Register of Medicines, even if a registered price for such a drug exists.
Pharmaceutical business
Amehim, a member of the Amedart Group of Companies, will invest over 2 billion rubles in the creation of a full-cycle pharmaceutical complex in the Tomsk Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The project includes the production of active ingredients and finished dosage forms according to GMP standards. The new industrial site aims to develop regional pharmaceutical infrastructure, create 250 jobs, and strengthen the Tomsk Region's research and production potential in the development and production of vital drugs.
Medical devices market
Firma BST-3, the official distributor of ZUMAX medical microscopes, is investing 120 million rubles in the creation of a production facility in the Esipovo Industrial Park in the Moscow Region. The 600-square-meter facility will accommodate the assembly and maintenance of surgical and dental microscopes, with an annual output of up to 200 units. The first phase is scheduled to launch in mid-2026, and the project will create up to 25 high-tech jobs.
Litigation
The Omsk Regional Arbitration Court has suspended consideration of a lawsuit filed by the region's deputy prosecutor against the Military Construction Company of the Russian Ministry of Defense, demanding the return of nearly 1.3 billion rubles for failure to fulfill contractual obligations during the construction of a children's infectious diseases hospital in Omsk. The court determined that a final decision requires an assessment of the expenditure of funds, establishing the scope and cost of the work actually performed by the company under the state contract. Construction efforts have been underway since 2019, and the cost has increased from the initial 3.4 billion rubles to 6.3 billion. Proceedings in the case will resume after the assessment is completed.
Career
Mikhail Sylka has been appointed acting deputy governor of Sevastopol, overseeing healthcare and social protection. He will oversee the activities of the regional Department of Health and the Department of Labor and Social Protection. For the past six months, he served as the director of organizational and control work at Novy Khersones. Until September 2024, Alexander Kulagin was responsible for this sector in the city administration; he left his position due to a transfer to the regional Legislative Assembly. First Deputy Governor Alexey Parikin has been temporarily appointed to oversee healthcare.
International agenda
Kimberly-Clark, one of the world's largest personal care product manufacturers, announced plans to acquire the American pharmaceutical company Kenvue. Kenvue, a division of Johnson & Johnson since 2023, produces the fever-reducing drug Tylenol, also known as acetaminophen (known as paracetamol in Russia and other countries). The deal is valued at $48.7 billion. According to a statement from the parties, they plan to create a combined company to combine "their complementary product portfolios." Following the completion of the transaction, current Kimberly-Clark shareholders will own approximately 54% of the combined company, while Kenvue will own approximately 46%. The deal was announced amid criticism from US President Donald Trump, who accused Kenvue of concealing data suggesting that using Tylenol during pregnancy could cause autism in newborns.
Other news:
The government has expanded the range of specialized nutrition for children with disabilities.
SuperJob: 66% of doctors would choose their profession again
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