VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Vladimir Putin said in his address that Russia's spending on healthcare had grown fourfold since 2001. Thanks to the government's efforts to improve the health of mothers and children, infant mortality rate has plummeted by almost one-third compared to 2005, while the birth rate and life expectancy have grown. The prime minister also mentioned that the average life expectancy in Russia is nearly 69 years, three years more than what it was five years ago. "This might be a modest achievement for Europe, but it points to a clear trend, to positive dynamics," Putin said.
Such positive changes were made possible due to the implementation of the national project Health. More than 590 billion roubles have been invested in healthcare over the past five years, the prime minister said. The tangible results of the project are modern medical centres for cardiovascular patients and the victims of car accidents, built in nearly all Russian regions. Oncology hospitals are being re-equipped, and high-tech medical and perinatal centres are being built.
Vladimir Putin also said that over 400 billion roubles would be invested within the healthcare project in the next three years. At the same time, Russia is prepared to contribute to healthcare development on a global scale. From 2006 to 2011, its contribution to the international healthcare system will exceed $430 million, the prime minister said. And he said that Russia would launch a programme for regional healthcare development in 2011.
Vladimir Putin's opening remarks:
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
The Regional Committee for Europe of the World Health Organisation is holding its 60th session in Moscow. I am honoured to address it in the capital of Russia.
This is the first time we are hosting such a representative assembly of the WHO. We see this as evidence of the organisation's intention to make use of Russia's potential for cooperation in healthcare and for implementing large-scale international programmes.
We intend to support the noble WHO goals and to consistently promote the solution of healthcare problems through bilateral ties and multilaterally within the framework of international organisations.
The World Health Organisation plays a key role in ensuring the sustainable development of the international community, especially in reaching priority goals such as lowering maternity and infant mortality rates and fighting the spread of HIV and other dangerous infectious diseases. We take these WHO priorities into account when formulating Russia's social policies.
We have been consistently increasing budget allocations for healthcare. I would like to tell you that Russia's spending on healthcare has grown nearly fourfold since 2001. In 2009, we invested 1.235 trillion roubles into healthcare in the country, which is about $40 billion.
In 2005, we launched the national project Health, which consolidated priority programmes aimed at resolving the main problems in healthcare. By that time we observed poor practices in healthcare, to put it mildly.
Therefore, we decided to consolidate federal and regional financial and administrative resources for resolving healthcare problems. This decision produced considerable effect. We have invested over 590 billion roubles in healthcare in the past five years and will invest another 440 billion roubles in the next three years.
Modern medical centres for cardiovascular diseases and the victims of car accidents have been built in nearly all Russian regions, modern equipment is being supplied to oncology centres, and high-tech medical and perinatal centres are being built. In fact, we now have a separate programme for perinatal and high-tech medical centres.
We have held many discussions of the issue; experts will know what I am referring to. Experts in Moscow, St Petersburg and several other large Russian cities told us: "Don't build new high-tech medical centres in the regions; don't do it. Better increase allocations to us, as there are no medical specialists or equipment in the regions."
It should be said that the people I like and respect were wrong in this case. When we started building high-tech medical centres in the regions, the conditions appealing to specialists were created and they flocked to the regions. In Russia, people agree to work in outlying regions not only because of higher pay but also because good working conditions were created and modern equipment was purchased, allowing them to effectively help patients. And work is continuing successfully.
I'd like to say that the goal of improving the health of mothers and children, which is a priority of the WHO, is also something that Russia is focusing on. Our efforts have produced good results. The infant mortality rate has plummeted by almost one-third compared to 2005, even as the birth rate has grown and life expectancy has increased by 3 years in the past five years, which is a lot. The average life expectancy in Russia is nearly 69 years. This might be a modest achievement for Europe, but a growth of three years in a matter of five years is a major achievement. It points to a clear trend, to positive dynamics.
I am confident that this development will continue to progress. I'd like to draw your attention to post-retirement life expectancy. After retirement, people in Russia live approximately - I repeat, approximately - as long as in Europe. But the average life expectancy is low in Russia. Why? This happens because of a high death rate due to drinking and smoking, above all among men and specifically young men, and car accidents and cardiovascular diseases, as I have said before.
We are trying to address these problems more actively than before. Our next step will be to launch healthcare programmes in the regions in 2011 in order to carry out the comprehensive modernisation and re-equipping of medical establishments across Russia.
We are also improving legislation: A new law on pharmaceuticals that is consistent with international requirements has come into force.
We will soon seriously amend the law on mandatory medical insurance, which guarantees the patients' right to choose a doctor, a medical establishment and an insurance company.
We are promoting the best traditions of the Russian healthcare system while focusing on preventive treatment. We have established over 500 health centres and will open 190 centres for children and teenagers this year.
We are encouraging Russians to respect their health and to give up bad habits. The government approved a concept for state policy on reducing alcohol consumption last year and a similar concept to reduce smoking recently. Russia ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and this was really a significant event. We will take into account all the requirements of that convention when drafting legislation.
In 2011, the first international conference on promoting healthy lifestyles will be held in Moscow at Russia's initiative. We hope the WHO will make use of our ideas and practical proposals.
Combating infectious diseases in Russia and across the world is a key priority of our work. In view of the cross-border nature of such diseases (epidemics and pandemics), Russia provides considerable technical assistance to its closest neighbours, the CIS countries, in particular in establishing national systems for monitoring infectious diseases.
Russia's aggregate contribution to these projects reached $28 million in the past few years. We will provide another $5 million in 2010 and we will continue to implement this programme of assistance to our closest neighbours in 2011 and 2012.
Russia has accumulated considerable experience in preventing dangerous infectious diseases, and we have created technology for producing vaccines. I am confident that this substantial resource will be used widely to effectively resolve the major health problems facing the international community.
We are taking an active part in the implementation of the G8 initiate advanced in St Petersburg to fight neglected tropical diseases; we have begun producing and supplying modern equipment and medicines to diagnose and prevent the spread of such diseases. To ensure sanitary and epidemiological security, we have created 10 mobile epidemic prevention units, which stand ready to fly to any part of the world.
Russia has contributed more than $250 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In all, Russia will have contributed over $430 million to public health services worldwide from 2006 to 2011.
Our contribution is not limited to funding. We are also ready to provide our specialists, production facilities and share the results of our research. Likewise, we will put into action the best international strategies in Russia.
I'd like to thank you for your attention. And I'd like to wish the participants of the 60th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe productive work, success and, as we in Russia say, strong Siberian health.
Thank you.
