The article is devoted to the availability of qualitative and effective medicines. Despite obvious social significance, this topic has been poorly studied and lacks scientific understanding. The main content of the research is an analysis of the results of population surveys by various Russian sociological centers. The author describes the characteristics of the attitude of Russians to domestic health care, conditions of the market of medicines and also opinion of the population to countersanctions policy which is pursued by the state to provide medicines for the population. The concept «availability» is discussed, its main aspects are characterized. The author substantiates the idea that today the main threats for medicines supply to citizens are connected rather to physical availability, than to the quality of medicines, their choice and price. Special focus is given to the analysis of results of medicinal import and specifics of localizing foreign manufactures in the territory of our country. The author comes to the conclusion that the objective possibility of medicinal sanctions against Russia threatens physical availability of medicines for Russians, and the issue of the autonomy of the domestic pharmaceutical industry from the countries of the West remains controversial.