Север и рынок: формирование экономического порядка (Dec 2023)
O MEDICINES IN THE ARCTIC DISTRICTS OF THE SAKHA REPUBLIC (YAKUTIA)
Abstract
Access to medicines is intrinsically linked to fundamental human rights to health and life. The need to make medicines more accessible is articulated in strategic planning documents, including the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and National Security until 2035. Enacted in 2023, the law “On the Deliveries of Goods to the Northern Territories” aims to address the situation regarding access to medicines in the Russian Arctic. This study aims to provide a rationale for a set of government regulation mechanisms aimed at improving access to medicines in the region. Guided by axiological principles, the study employs analysis and synthesis, systems analysis, structural analysis, mathematical tools, and statistical analysis. The study utilizes data from official statistics reports, the National Register of Medicines, archives run by the Ministry of Health of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), and local pharmacies. This research contributes to the scientific discourse on social policy issues in Arctic regions, focusing on the unique binary status of pharmaceutical companies caused by the ambiguous roles played by healthcare and federal authorities. Using Yakutia as a case study, the article sheds light on the current situation with access to medicines in regions traditionally populated by indigenous peoples. The analysis of the pharmaceutical market in Yakutia and its Arctic districts from 2009 to 2023 reveals both general positive trends in healthcare and the low effectiveness of existing measures, necessitating a clearer definition of government participation forms. The study gives additional proposals in this domain. Due to the multidimensionality of interdependent yet separate public (healthcare) and private (pharmacies) sectors, further research can be done into ways to improve the quality of life of the local population in the context of economic and social inequality.
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