Five Pharmacies Closed in Tatarstan in the Last Year Due to Staffing Shortages

It has been reported that a total of five pharmacies ceased operations in the republic of Tatarstan over the past year. Three of these closed pharmacies are located directly in rural areas. According to the draft resolution prepared by the Devonlet Konseyi Sosyal Politika Komitesi of the region, the main reason for the closure of the pharmacies is a severe staffing shortage. The relevant committee emphasizes the need to develop various strategies to resolve this issue in order to regulate the healthcare system. This situation is a critical problem that directly threatens the access to medication for the public, especially those living in remote settlements.

Currently, 159 pharmacies are operating under 'Tattekhmedfarm', the largest pharmacy network in the region. However, in 21 different settlements, only a single pharmacy point remains to serve the public. Looking at the situation in rural areas, it is observed that the distribution of discounted and free medications can only be carried out through 45 rural pharmacies. Furthermore, although there are 321 feldsher-midwifery centers (FAP) authorized to sell medicines, it is not possible to find a sufficient number of healthcare workers at these centers. Due to the lack of personnel, existing pharmacies are forced to shorten their working hours, and some are closing permanently.

To resolve this ongoing crisis, local deputies have brought up various alternative measures. Among these proposals is the opening of new state pharmacies within public hospitals under discounted conditions. Additionally, the necessity of establishing a distribution network for the regular delivery of medicines to remote towns and villages is being expressed. Deputies have also added to the proposals that personnel selling medicines need to be trained and professionally supported. Finally, it is planned to increase information campaigns regarding the ability of residents to procure their medications directly through FAPs and local health centers.

Looking at the steps taken at the federal level, it is seen that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the mobile pharmacy law in May of this year. Under this new law, a pilot program will be launched starting in September and will last for three years. The said mobile pharmacy experiment is open to every region in Russia, except for cities with federal status. In addition, the use of different methods, such as remote medication supply through mobile hospital teams, is also being encouraged. The goal is to expand such practical solutions across the country.

It is known that similar projects were previously undertaken to facilitate access to medicines in rural areas. The first of these was e-commerce projects aimed directly at the remote sale of medicines. A second method involved sending mobile healthcare teams to rural areas. However, both initiatives failed to achieve the desired success in rural areas and could not provide a permanent solution. The main reasons for this failure include logistical issues arising from the challenging geographical structure of the regions and inadequate internet infrastructure. Authorities hope that this new mobile pharmacy project will be implemented successfully by learning from past mistakes.