Oncology drug spending experienced a significant increase, surpassing a 100% rise over a four-year period.
In a significant move, the Russian Ministry of Health has announced a 14.8% increase in the budget for medical assistance to patients with oncological diseases in day hospitals for the year 2025. This brings the total allocation to 389.9 billion rubles, as reported to journalists.
This increase in spending is part of a larger trend. Over the past four years, the budget for subsidized drug provision for patients with oncological diseases has more than doubled, rising from 2021's figure to 2024's.
The total volume of anticancer drugs released under the subsidy program in Russia was 69 billion rubles in 2025. This figure represents a significant portion of the total drugs released for the treatment of oncological diseases, with 8 positions added to the list in 2021, 4 in 2022, and 6 in 2024. Five more drugs for the treatment of oncological diseases were recommended for inclusion in 2025.
However, data from the public organization "Movement Against Cancer" suggests that not all regions in Russia are equally supplied with anticancer drugs. Regions such as Krasnodar Territory, Rostov, Sverdlovsk, Novosibirsk, Penza, Kursk, Voronezh regions, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and the republics of the North Caucasus Federal District are reported to face challenges in this regard.
The list of vital and essential drugs, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation's decree No. 2406-r of 12.10.2019, was supplemented over five years, with 18 drugs used for the treatment of oncological diseases added during this period, representing 34% of all drugs included in the list.
The names of the persons or organizations that submitted applications in 2021 and 2022 for the inclusion of eight and four additional anticancer drugs in the state subsidy program are not specified in public sources.
The newspaper "Vedomosti" previously reported that the public organization "Movement Against Cancer" had sent a letter to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin regarding the issue of anticancer drug supplies.
In 2024, the total amount of drugs for the treatment of oncological diseases released was 100.5 billion rubles, with 44 billion rubles under the federal subsidy and 56.5 billion rubles under the regional subsidy. The budget spending for subsidized oncology drugs in Russia more than doubled from 2021 to 2024.
The TASS news agency reported that the Ministry of Health had noted the allocation of 389.9 billion rubles for the financial provision of medical assistance to patients with oncological diseases in day hospitals in 2025. Specifically, eight positions were included in 2021, four in 2022, and six in 2024, with five more drugs recommended for inclusion in 2025.
This increased funding and the addition of new drugs to the list of vital and essential drugs are expected to have a positive impact on the treatment of oncological diseases in Russia.
