We are sorry that there weren’t any updates for a while. Thank you for your patience. We know that you are worried about our common goal: saving kids who are dealing with cancer.
We are gradually realizing the difficulties and inconveniences for pediatric cancer hospitals that the sanctions imposed on Russia and the government's response to them create.
MEDICATIONS: Sanctions are making it difficult for the government to procure a significant portion of anti-tumor drugs; the substitutes proposed by the Russian Ministry of Health are incompatible with the modern treatment protocols that «Podari Zhizn» experts support. There are also difficulties with Russia’s own production of generics because the sanctions have discontinued the supply of standard pharmacological components. Also, given the expansion of sanctions and possible problems with timely delivery, we are forced - together with sister charities - to concern ourselves with the need to create an operational stock of rare and unregistered drugs used in the treatment of childhood cancer in Russia.
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT: sanctions (and the Russian government's own restrictions on purchases from "unfriendly" countries) have also affected medical equipment, consumables, and maintenance. In particular, the Ministry of Health can no longer purchase ventilators manufactured by Drager, which are deeply integrated into the operating rooms of cancer hospitals. At the same time, new facilities are scheduled to open in 2022, which will require at least 16 monitors and two Drager ventilators.
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT MATERIALS: Similarly, sanctions have prevented government purchases of bone marrow transplant consumables (depletion protocol). Lack of appropriate consumables sets cancer treatment technology back 15 years and creates a significant risk of complications and cancer recurrence.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: the cessation of cross-border Visa and Mastercard transactions, and a significant complication of foreign currency transactions for the Russian "Podari Zhizn" foundation, as well as an excessive compliance requirement of Western banks shifted the main burden of payment for drugs, equipment and consumables to Podari Zhizn's foreign sisters, Gift of Life (UK) and Podari.Life (USA). Fortunately, thanks to the good will of our logistics service provider, we can be sure that our purchases will be delivered to Russia; your help will not go to waste but will help the doctors and the children they are treating.
HOW TO HELP US: Under the circumstances, Podari.Life is under considerable financial strain. We are grateful to those foreign donors who have already responded to the appeal and transferred their donations from the Russian foundation to us. We also hope that our regular donors will continue to contribute to the cause. The need to connect to the purchase of equipment for Russian hospitals greatly increases our needs, but we believe in you, our generous donors.