Should OTC drugs be advertised in Russia?

A debate about the legalities of advertising over the counter (OTC) drugs is waging in Eastern Europe. A report from Poland-based research and consulting company PMR says that, while the idea of introducing a ban on the advertising of OTC drugs and dietary supplements in the mass media has recently been widely discussed in Russia and Ukraine, is in unlikely than such a ban will be introduced in the near feature.

10-year discussion on advertising ban in Russia

The subject of a ban on the advertising of OTC drugs has been discussed in Russia since 2003, but its supporters have always had a strong group of opponents. The first legislative bill was put forward in 2009 but was rejected in 2010. In 2012, the State Duma (Parliament) proposed that the advertising of OTC drugs should be limited to the specialist medical press and medical events. However, in March 2013 the government opposed the introduction of such requirements. In May 2013 Veronika Skvortsova, the Health Minister, once again announced that the advertising of medicines would be banned. The Federal Antimonopoly Service opposes a ban.