MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. All pharmaceutical companies confirm that their supplies of medicines to Russia are continuing, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Monday.

"All pharmaceutical companies confirm to us today that the supply of medicines [to Russia] continues. As part of the list of essential medicines, we regulate prices, and we receive these medicines as usual," he said at a meeting with consulting offices of the United Russia party.

Murashko said that over the past three weeks, there has been an increased demand for a number of drugs, caused by the spread of false information about the shortage of a number of them. He called on the Russians not to create excessive demand, stressing that all drugs are in stock. The minister added that thanks to the labeling system, the responsible agencies can quickly track the stocks of medicines in the country. Also an information system has been established, and drug shortages are being prevented.

Earlier, one of the Russian government’s Telegram channels reported that that the Health Ministry had nothing to do with calls on behalf of representatives of the ministry to the population to purchase medicines because of their alleged shortage in the near future.