Russia is currently experiencing a shortage of Rh immunoglobulin, a crucial medication for preventing rhesus conflict during pregnancy, with supplies dwindling in pharmacies and, in some cases, hospitals across the country. This shortage raises concerns for pregnant women at risk of rhesus conflict, a condition where the mother’s immune system attacks the fetus’s blood cells due to incompatibility in Rh factors.

The scarcity has been reported in major cities including Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan, impacting availability in major pharmacy chains. While the Moscow Department of Health assures that hospitals in the capital have sufficient stocks, reports indicate shortages in medical institutions as well.

Roszdravnadzor, the Russian healthcare watchdog, acknowledges the issue and anticipates a new delivery of foreign-made anti-rhesus immunoglobulin in early July. The agency also stated that the amount of Rh immunoglobulin entering civilian circulation for the first five months of 2025 matched the levels of previous years.

The primary reason for the shortage is the limited domestic production of the drug. The Ivanovo blood transfusion station is the only Russian manufacturer, producing significantly less than the country’s needs. Imported medicines, which typically supplement the supply, have seen a reduction in purchases this year.

Experts attribute the low domestic production to a shortage of blood plasma, the raw material for Rh immunoglobulin. The inclusion of the drug in the list of vital medicines, which caps its price, also contributes to the problem, making it less attractive for manufacturers.

Obstetrician-gynecologists emphasize the critical importance of Rh immunoglobulin in preventing rhesus conflict and its potentially devastating consequences. The drug is administered to Rh-negative women during pregnancy and after childbirth to prevent the development of antibodies that can harm future pregnancies. Without it, subsequent pregnancies can result in hemolytic disease in the newborn or even fetal death. Hemolytic disease is difficult and costly to treat, often requiring intrauterine blood transfusions.