Russia May Use Sugar Tax to Fund Diabetes Drugs and Save Lives

A Russian lawmaker has proposed using tax revenue from sugary drinks to fund life-saving drugs for diabetes patients. The move aims to tackle complications like heart failure and kidney disease, which remain leading causes of death among those with type 2 diabetes. Current state spending on the condition already exceeds 700 billion rubles annually.

Deputy Stanislav Naumov put forward the plan to expand the federal project Fight against Diabetes. His proposal includes creating a dedicated list of subsidised drugs under the Development of Healthcare programme. The focus would be on cardioprotective and nephroprotective medications, which many patients currently lack.

The excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, introduced in 2023, generated 18.773 billion rubles in 2024. Revenues are projected to rise to 25.9 billion rubles in 2025. Naumov suggests redirecting part of these funds to cover treatment gaps.

If approved, the new funding could provide medication for around 110,000 patients who do not currently receive it through state benefits. Most of the economic burden—over 80%—comes from lost productivity due to illness, disability, and early deaths.

The proposal targets two major issues: reducing preventable deaths and easing financial strain on the healthcare system. By linking sugar tax revenue to drug subsidies, the plan could improve access to critical treatments. Officials have not yet released data on which regions or patient groups would benefit most.