On December 17-18, 2020, the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia together with the Skolkovo Foundation is conducting the VI international Conference "Antimonopoly Policy: Science, Practice, Education".

On December 17 the AEB Deputy CEO Ruslan Kokarev, Chairperson of the Health & Pharmaceuticals Committee Yana Kotukhova and member of the Medical Devices WG Julia Fedorova participated as speakers in the session in the format of BRICS+ "Competition issues in the markets of medicines and medical devices during the pandemic".

 The session was moderated by Timofey Nizhegorodtsev, Deputy Head of FAS Russia, and gathered experts from Russia, Italy, China, Sweden, South Africa. 

The participants discussed the impact of the pandemic on the structure of the pharmaceuticals and medical devices markets and the ways to overcome the crisis and to ensure the improvement of drugs and medical services provision. Other important issues such as compulsory licensing, pricing reform, public procurement and others were also touched. The need for further cooperation and a sustainable dialogue in these challenging times was particularly highlighted by all participants.

The AEB delegates stressed the importance of the dialogue between regulators and market players to find effective solutions to current challenges affecting healthcare systems such as new mechanisms of re-registration of drug prices and the commitment to the principle of ensuring a level playing field for all manufacturers and maintaining a predictable regulatory environment as well as the necessity to strengthen the international cooperation to boost innovations.