Russia, Syria agree to develop cooperation on supplying medicines, medical articles

MOSCOW. Oct 30 (Interfax) - Russia and Syria have signed a memorandum on cooperating on the circulation of medicines and medical articles; in particular, the two countries will conduct joint research, develop new medicines and medical articles, and launch their commercial production.

"The Russian Health Ministry, Russian Industry and Trade Ministry, and Syrian Health Ministry intend to develop and broaden cooperation within their purview on circulating medicines and medical articles, including their production, as well as their supplies in line with Russian and Syrian law, which is stipulated in a memorandum on cooperating on the circulation of medicines and medical articles signed in Moscow," the Russian Health Ministry said on Monday.

The areas of cooperation between the countries include conducting joint research and developing new medicines and medical articles, launching their subsequent production, making sure that medicines and medical products are available to the two countries' citizens, and implementing joint investment projects for producing medicines and medical devices, it said.

Russia is stepping up the production and development of medicines, and this record will be useful in bilateral cooperation, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.

"At least one facility manufacturing medicines opens in Russia every month. This enables us to feel safe, and the prices are significantly lower than those for products we buy from abroad," the ministry quoted Murashko as saying.