The Ministry of Finance has introduced changes to the rules for purchasing essential medicines through public tenders. These changes are set to take effect in 2025. The discussion revolves around the so-called "second one is redundant" mechanism. If at least one supplier of a drug produced in Russia or the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries participates in the tender, all other applications are automatically rejected. Currently, the draft decree is under review by interested federal executive authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Health. The "second one is redundant" principle aims to motivate companies to deepen the production of medicines in Russia instead of relying on foreign raw materials. The new rule will apply to the procurement of medicines included in the list of vital and essential medicines (VEM). This is a list of drugs whose prices are regulated by the government. These drugs are also used in the treatment of patients as part of the program for free medical care for citizens. In addition, there are categories of patients eligible for free or discounted drugs from the VEM list. These include people with disabilities, World War II veterans, disabled children, etc. To receive a prescription for an essential medicine, it is necessary to visit a local therapist and provide documents confirming the entitlement (veteran or pensioner ID, large family certificate, etc.). In case a medical organization refuses to issue a prescription for the corresponding medicine, a complaint should be filed with the prosecutor's office.