PURPOSE: The purpose of this workshop will be to explore how HTA / pharmacoeconomic policy in Russia influences policy and access decisions on high value / orphan disease therapeutics in CIS countries. DESCRIPTION: Although having one of the lowest willingness-to-pay for high-value drugs in the European region, Russia has been characterised as a country with the highest cost-effectiveness threshold within the CIS. Currently, the policy for HTA assessment and methodological developments in Russia are being influenced by several economic and political factors, which include (1) the creation of a common market with harmonised legislation within the Eurasian Economic Commission (ECC), (2) the political shift towards so-called “importozamescheniye” – an increased push from the government to switch to locally produced medicines and support local pharmarmaceutical manufacturers, (3) the ongoing push for more comprehensive HTA methodology for assessing the drugs in the face of a stringent health care budget. During the workshop the participants will be reviewing how such HTA policy developments in Russia may impact policy and decision-making with regard to access for high-value, rare disease therapies in the CIS region. As a market with common rules and a larger population may be of greater interest in the pursuit of access, particular emphasis during the workshop will be paid to explore the current status of HTA policy harmonisation across the countries in the CIS region and the forecasted changes with the establishment of the ECC.