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Developing the pharmaceuticals and medical equipment production sectors, and also strategic computer technology and software were the main subjects on the agenda.

The President noted that, despite a number of positive changes on the Russian pharmaceuticals market, the country’s pharmaceuticals industry is still not producing effective modern medicines and is overall not prepared for serious competition with foreign producers. Mr Medvedev set the task of removing the obstacles hindering the sector’s development, including by establishing centres capable of producing the necessary technological advances.

On the subject of developing strategic information technology in Russia, Mr Medvedev said that the main tasks in this area are to create super computers and grid systems, expand the use of electronic government and develop cultural information and educational services based on the internet. The President said that access to modern information technology, quality public services, and broadband internet access is the main measure of the information society’s development in the country. Mr Medvedev proposed discussing the idea of cutting budget financing to state bodies that do not implement decisions on using EDMS (Electronic Document Management Systems).

Before the meeting began, the President discussed the labour market situation and the development of the pharmaceuticals and medical technology industries in Vladimir Region with the region’s governor, Nikolai Vinogradov.

Earlier in the day, Mr Medvedev visited pharmaceuticals company LEKKO, which is in the process of establishing a research and production bio-technology centre. The centre will develop and produce new genetically engineered medicines to replace imports, carrying out the full production cycle from cultivating the components to manufacturing the ready-to-use medicines. The President visited the laboratories, saw the production process and also looked through a plan for construction of the centre’s supporting infrastructure.