AI to Help Prevent Drug Shortages
New technologies, combined with existing systems already in operation, are expected to strengthen pharmaceutical market analysis. The resulting insights could also provide a clearer picture of epidemiological trends across individual regions.
The digital infrastructure supporting Russia’s pharmaceutical market continues to evolve with the addition of artificial intelligence, which can significantly accelerate and improve existing processes. Speaking at a session on the role of data in the economy of the future during SPIEF 2026, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko outlined plans to integrate AI into Russia’s drug labeling and traceability system. The work is expected to be carried out jointly with Tsentr razvitiya perspektivnykh tekhnologiy (Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies, CRPT). The primary goals include data analytics, risk modelling, manufacturer oversight, and monitoring conditions across the pharmaceutical market.
Ultimately, AI is expected to help regulators understand how many medicines are entering the market and identify areas where shortages or pricing violations may emerge. An “electronic inspector” mechanism was also announced. If the price of a medicine included on Russia’s government-approved list of vital and essential medicines exceeds the permitted level, the violation will be recorded automatically and enforcement measures will follow.
Supporting Chestny znak
The Chestny znak (Honest Sign) system already operates nationwide and includes more than 94,000 participants within the pharmaceutical segment alone. AI is now expected to strengthen several functions simultaneously: manufacturer oversight, including the identification of pseudo-manufacturers lacking production facilities, equipment, personnel, or inventory; price monitoring; demand and shortage forecasting, particularly when domestic producers need to compensate for the departure of foreign suppliers; and epidemiological analytics.
The technology could also attract interest from other countries. Traceability, supply-chain analytics, risk modelling, fraud prevention, price monitoring, and product-flow oversight are all areas where Russian developers may be able to offer solutions that have already been tested within the domestic regulatory framework.
Not a Single Package Untracked
Since July 1, 2020, digital drug labeling has been mandatory in Russia. A unique digital code is applied to every package, making it possible to track a medicine’s movement from manufacturer to consumer. At the same time, the data is used during pharmaceutical assessments and verification procedures. In 2024, Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) also gained access to labeling data. That development improved the accuracy of healthcare government programs by enabling real-time price analysis.
AI later began to play a growing role in healthcare workflows. In April 2026, one of the directives published on the Kremlin website called for the introduction of AI technologies into medical practice. A month later, the Ministry of Health reported that AI assistants were already helping reduce physicians’ administrative workload.
Stages of a Larger Transformation
Russia’s drug labeling and traceability system is gradually evolving from a traceability tool into a platform for digital regulation of the pharmaceutical market. If implemented successfully, the initiative could make the market more transparent and enable faster responses to shortages or sudden spikes in demand.
The project is likely to advance in stages. The first phase will focus on analytics and risk detection, followed by the automation of inspections. Only after that would broader regulatory actions based on AI models become feasible. The key challenge will be validating AI performance at every stage while maintaining strong safeguards for information security.
