The main issue isn`t merely the inability to process cashless payments. Medicines with mandatory marking require online verification at the cash register. In conditions where mobile internet was unavailable for two weeks in Nizhny Novgorod and three weeks in Tula, this caused significant inconvenience for customers.
Communication outages can hinder drug sales. The consequences of restrictions on mobile connectivity for pharmacists are described by “Pharmatsevtichesky Vestnik” (Pharmaceutical Bulletin).
Remote locations cannot sell medicines if mobile internet is disconnected for more than 72 hours. This is the maximum operational period for the so-called offline module of the “Честный знак” (Honest Mark) mandatory marking system, which allows scanning even without a connection. After three days, the system requires data synchronization and blocks the possibility of sale. Thus, if a pharmacy lacks a wired internet connection, the sale of medications stops.
Maria Gordeeva, correspondent for “Pharmatsevtichesky Vestnik,” explains:
Since early July, pharmacists in various cities have reported internet problems in pharmaceutical chats. Simply put, there was no internet. Consequently, pharmacies with internet connectivity disruptions lasting more than three days cannot transmit data for marking codes. This has been mandatory since June 1, because, according to government decree No. 257, the sale of medicinal products requires mandatory online verification at the cash register. As “Pharmatsevtichesky Vestnik” found out, pharmacies familiar with internet interruptions use the “Честный знак” local module. This is software that is downloaded separately and integrated into the cash register software, into the pharmacy`s software. In the absence of an internet connection and the inability to perform online verification of the marking code, the offline verification, which happens precisely with the help of the “Честный знак” local module, is automatically triggered. The main problem, which the Nizhny Novgorod Professional Association of Pharmaceutical Workers told us about, is that the “Честный знак” offline module doesn`t allow operation for more than three days. That is, it gets blocked. And what happens then? Deviations and errors are recorded in the client`s personal account on “Честный знак,” and in this case, the responsibility lies with the pharmacy. That is, the pharmacy faces sanctions.
As “Pharmvestnik” indicates, localized outages at individual points of sale were confirmed by the Rigla chain and other market participants. According to the portal, the operator of “Честный знак,” the Center for Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT), is aware of the difficult situation. Later, the editorial office received a comment from CRPT:
The marking system does not affect sales; it simply operates within existing processes. Since June 1, 2025, an online authorization mode is in effect for medicines. In case of internet disconnection, the mechanism involves a local module: if the cash register does not receive a response from the marking system within 1.5 seconds when selling a medicine, it automatically switches to offline verification mode. Currently, the installation of a local module is not mandatory, but it will become so from September 1. Until then, pharmacies can sell medicines without internet, without switching to offline verification.
“Our cash registers operate according to the recommended algorithm: if the code doesn`t pass verification within a few seconds, we register the sale, record the code in the register, and send the data to the system without online verification. This fully complies with the requirements and does not inconvenience either us or customers. All medicines are available,” noted the Neopharm pharmacy chain.
“Mobile internet problems did not affect the operation of our cash registers, as we installed wired internet in all our pharmacies beforehand. Thanks to the stable connection, the marking is processed instantly, and data is transferred to `Честный знак`. The assortment is fully available for purchase,” stated the Maksavit pharmacy chain.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth