Russia/NIS

Though Russia has been rebuilding its economy following the break-up of the former Soviet Union, serious problems persist—some of those impacting its health programs. The spread of antimicrobial resistance and increasing number of cases of HIV infection and drug-resistant tuberculosis that threaten the Russian people's health are being addressed through cooperative programs.

U.S. Pharmacopeia began working in Russia with support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Rational Pharmaceutical Management (RPM) program in 1993. USP DQI continues to build on existing programs that enhance health systems by improving the selection and management of pharmaceutical supplies and information. Rationalized drug selection and procurement, improved information management, and expanded drug information resources are achieved through several methods in Russia.


Russian Drug Information Centers

Four Drug Information Centers (DICs) located in medical schools, hospitals, and other institutions throughout the country provide current, reliable drug and therapy information to healthcare professionals and patients in their individual regions. Developed as independent, non-governmental, self-sustaining initiatives, the Centers provide up-to-date, unbiased drug information that encourages the optimal selection and use of drugs and therapies currently available in the country. Essential services provided by the DICs include:

  • Information Services—DIC staff regularly answers drug information requests from health professionals, pharmacists, and patients, and disseminate periodic drug bulletins related to rational drug therapy and other health topics.
  • Educational Activities—DICs organize local and regional conferences, workshops, and courses concerning various aspects of rational drug use and pharmacovigilance, and provide expertise and oversight to the Continuing Education Distance Learning Project.
  • Rational Drug Use Activities—Most DICs play a key role in formulary development and drug utilization review activities in their regions and their specialists serve as members of regional formulary committees.
  • Pharmacovigilance—All DICs collect and analyze Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reports and submit them to the Federal ADR Center for inclusion in the national database.

Infectious Diseases Textbook

Developed by a large group of Russian scientists well-known in the field of infectious diseases, this second edition of the Antimicrobial Textbook provides Russian and NIS healthcare professionals with comprehensive information on antibacterial, antiviral (including HIV/AIDS), antifungal, antiprotozoal, and antihelmintic drugs, as well as chapters on the pharmacoepidemiology of antibiotics. Full text of the Antimicrobial Textbook in Russian is available on the Antibiotic.ru Web site, where it has received over 2.7 million visits since being uploaded in 2001. The third edition, expected to be published by April 2007, will include information about the HN51 avian flu, the drug quality of antimicrobials, and the new drugs on the market.

Guide to Infection Control in the Hospital

In April 2003, USP DQI and the Institute of Antimicrobial Therapy published a Russian translation and adaptation of the 2002 Guide to Infection Control. This pocket-size manual contains 42 chapters that explain key principles and guidelines for reducing the rate of nosocomial infections and describe practical measures intended to improve quality of care, minimize risk, save lives, and reduce costs. Fifteen thousand copies of the guide were disseminated through the Man and Drugs Conference, World Health Organization, the American International Health Alliance, and other interested organizations; and can be downloaded online (in Russian).

Continuing Education Distance Learning

A cooperative project with the Institute of Antimicrobial Therapy (IAC), the Department of Clinical Pharmacology of Smolensk State Medical Academy, and the regional Drug Information Centers, this program grew out of the desire to improve the qualifications of Russian doctors in the field of antimicrobial therapy. Using the Internet, participants update their knowledge of Antimicrobial Therapy or Socially Important Diseases in a convenient, self-directed manner with guidance from experienced healthcare practitioners and academicians. The course includes:

  • Lectures on diagnosis and treatment of various types of infections, with materials on antimicrobial resistance, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, evidence-based medicine, sources of information, and the formulary system.
  • Illustrated materials that correspond to the lectures;
  • Tests and questionnaires to measure understanding of the materials; and
  • List of reference materials, including Internet sites.

Antimicrobial Therapy Course

This five-month course focuses on antimicrobial drugs for sexually transmitted infections (STI's), tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, acute respiratory infections, and other diseases of major significance in Russia. Demand for the course has been so great, the project lacked qualified trainers to accommodate the number of students who had applied. In response, Smolensk Medical Academy began a "training of trainers" program to instruct other medical school faculties how to organize and conduct the course, provided them access to materials it had developed, and authorized those schools to present the course at their universities. Approximately ten secondary Distance Learning Centers have been established in Russian and Newly Independent States (NIS) medical universities, academies, and schools of pharmacy.

Socially Important Diseases Course—Developed by the Smolensk Medical Academy team with the National HIV/AIDS and TB Programs and other well-known experts, this five-week course covers the topics of HIV/AIDS, TB, and STIs.

The Distance Learning courses have received official recognition from the government of Russia to provide continuing education credits that apply toward government requirements for licensing. (All physicians are required to earn CE credits every five years.) Completion of these courses can also enhance the possibility for promotion and salary potential.

Drug Information Center Management Training Course

The Vladivostok DIC has translated and adapted the Drug Information Center Management Training Module to include the Russian experience with DIC creation, a DIC model mission statement, and the analysis of DIC performance based upon its own example. (Russian language version is available for download in PDF from the Antibiotic.ru Web site.)

For further information, contact:

Institute of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (IAC),
Smolensk State Medical Academy
Attn. Vladimir Rafalsky
28 Krupskaya Street, P.O. Box 5
Smolensk, Russia, 214019
Phones: + 7-0812-611301 or + 7-0812-611327
Fax: + 7-0812-611294