Russia and China To Integrate Healthcare Medical Standards

Russia and China are to sign a memorandum of cooperation in healthcare in November, giving new impetus to the mutual quality and safety of their respective medical products, according to Mikhail Murashko, the Russian Health Minister.

He said, “The work done by the Russian Scientific Center for the Examination of Medical Products of the Health Ministry and the Chinese National Institute for Food and Drug Control has now been completed. It is planned to sign an MoU in late November, which will encourage the development of bilateral cooperation. This will make our pharmacopeial standards for safety and quality of medical products more aligned.” Murashko was speaking at the Russian-Chinese Commission for Humanitarian Cooperation in Beijing on Saturday (November 1).

These discussions will pave the way for future Russia-Chinese medical joint ventures and investments.

More than 100 medications from China, over 600 substances, and more than 3,500 medical products of Chinese manufacturers are registered for use in Russia. China has a vibrant Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) industry, which aims at preventative treatment as opposed to diagnostic aftercare. An issue with TCM is that while it can be effective, often the active ingredient is unknown, and effects can vary amongst individuals.