The Russian healthcare system relies on imported medical devices to fill gaps where domestic supply is unavailable. This trend is best observed in tech-heavy device sectors where leading international brands are often imported into Russia for use in private and public facilities. Devices deemed essential to the Russian healthcare system have been exempt from Western export restrictions based on humanitarian need, but nonetheless, the ongoing war in Ukraine has created numerous logistical challenges that will impact their delivery.
The logistics of shipping essential goods such as medical devices into Russia has become an increasingly complex process during the conflict. Many land shipping routes through Russia, Belarus and Ukraine have become too dangerous for operation and have been effectively closed.
