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
"I signed an executive order on setting up a special Government commission to prevent an epidemic of swine flu in Russia. An outbreak of this infection caused by a highly pathogenic virus was registered in Mexico and a number of American states. Russian sanitary services have already taken measures towards this end. They have imposed a ban on the imports of pork and certain other meat products from Central America and a number of American states, established quarantine, and taken other urgent measures. I'd like you to closely follow the situation."
"I have signed several Government Acts to resolve the pressing problems of developing healthcare, social services and support for industry. First, as we agreed, we will direct 4.2 billion roubles to the development of blood donor systems across the Russian Federation. Modern equipment will be purchased, which will help blood transfers be as effective and safe as possible, and will also help to deal with its storage. Second, I have introduced changes into the Federal Targeted Programme Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. We are going to allocate 5 billion roubles, most of which will go towards the fight against tuberculosis. It is a serious problem, and we need to act constantly, in a focussed way. Incidentally in these crisis conditions this has become even more urgent."
"We intend to seriously develop and upgrade access to modern medical aid. Four centers of high medical technologies will be commissioned, and construction of prenatal centers will be continued. The program for improving aid to cancer patients has been launched."
"The state is investing more into the social sector and has created favourable conditions for the influx of private investment. For instance, we have exempted a considerable share of corporate healthcare."
"I also think that prices for medical services are growing inadmissibly despite the change of the rouble rate because we are importing many medicines or their ingredients. Still, I do not think the price rises are well grounded. There are several fields in which we should improve our work. The most important task is to streamline the mandatory health insurance system. We will make relevant allocations and develop our own pharmaceutical industry and health services."
"As for complicated and expensive surgery, we are increasing the number of state-paid operations-but clearly, Moscow, St Petersburg and other major cities cannot cope with the entire Russian population. So, there is a programme for the construction of high tech health centres in Russian regions. Some of them are working already. We will implement this programme despite financial problems. It envisages cancer and heart treatment."
“What worries me very much about the age group you mentioned is drug addiction. For this region, the Kuzbass, this unfortunately is a very urgent issue. Drug addiction here, especially among young people, is higher than the average figure for the country, much higher. We must pool our efforts here: the law enforcement, administration, public organisations and health authorities must work out an effective plan of joint action.”
“We are planning to stabilise the numerical strength of the population and secure its steady growth with active demographic policy. <...> I'm pleased to say that recent measures in this area have created a positive trend in Russia.”
“It is necessary to invigorate the efforts to provide school children with high quality sound nutrition. This problem will help improve their health during study and shape a healthy lifestyle. Under the plan, 21 regions are supposed to adopt modern school catering standards this year. In the future, their experience should be spread to other regions.”
“School gyms and stadiums could be open to children not only during classes but also after them. It goes without saying that children should be supervised. Coaches and teachers should watch and help them, and be paid for that. Sports facilities at places of residence should also have a convenient time schedule. As I've already said, funds for remuneration of PT teachers and sports organisers should have special incentives for improving students' health and promoting a healthy lifestyle.”
“Sports facilities should become accessible to all children and teenagers regardless of how much their parents earn. Incidentally, their construction is not very expensive, and nothing particularly special is required for their operation. I'd like to stress that every child should gain an opportunity to participate in sports for free.”
“We all realise that a healthy lifestyle does not come about on its own. It goes without saying that young people should display a strong will for regular sports activities and renunciation of bad habits primarily of their own accord. At the same time, however, our society should create favourable conditions that will allow our children to develop harmoniously. I'd like to emphasise once again that this is a task for all of society rather than simply for Government authorities.”
“In 2009, we not only continue to work on the previously chosen projects but will also start financing a number of new undertakings. The most important one is promoting the values of a healthy lifestyle, physical fitness and sports among children and teenagers, and preventing young people from smoking and excessive drinking.”
“Now, as you know, we are building Europe's largest medical centre for children with leukemia and blood cancers. We invested more than 40 million Euros in this project last year. This and next year will also see complete budget funding despite the financial crisis. Importantly, your help is welcome here, too. I know that special agencies have been established to train our personnel. I think the time will come when our partnership will really become fully bilateral cooperation because the project also envisages the largest European research centre.”
“This year, we have earmarked 1.7 billion roubles for the centre's [Federal Scientific Clinical Centre for Child Hematology, Oncology and Immunology] construction, and will allocate another 500 million roubles before the year expires. The year ends a few days from now, but we will wire the money. Next year, we will allot 2.6 billion roubles. This is big money on a national scale, and even bigger on the scale of healthcare funding.”
“This will indeed be one of Europe's largest centres [Federal Scientific Clinical Centre for Child Hematology, Oncology and Immunology], which will support 78 national health clinics and help them master the methods of treatment. This centre will accommodate 400 children simultaneously; it will offer from 250 to 300 ward beds. Children will be able to stay with their parents, and feel almost at home. Experts believe that this will have a positive effect on their treatment.”
“We will continue reforming the system of compulsory medical insurance, funding state guarantees for free medical aid, and developing programmes for preventive medical check-ups, and treatment of oncological and cardio-vascular diseases.”
“Starting December 1, 2008, federal medical and education establishments, as well as other federally supported institutions, for instance, in culture, will convert to new payment systems. They are designed to improve the quality of services, and to provide incentives for the best doctors and teachers. As we have mentioned, the overall labour remuneration fund in the federal budget will increase by 30 percent.”
"It is important that we all fulfill our obligations punctually. I am referring to birth certificates, assistance to mothers in raising children to a year and a half, and grants through the age of three. “Mother’s Capital” must then be kept within the agreed upon budget, and indexed regularly. We have every facility for doing that, despite any global financial crises".
"Modern medical science has methodologies for treatment of cardio-vascular diseases. It is now important to ensure that all patients in all parts of the country receive timely and quality medical service. A project to set up regional and municipal cardio-vascular centres started this year is expected to help solve the problem."
"I would like to note that in 2009, for the first time we are beginning the financing of the programme of promoting a healthy lifestyle, giving up smoking and over-consumption of alcohol. For these purposes 830 million roubles have been allocated. We are also increasing the financing of medical help to oncology patients; the financing is increasing by 6.3 billion roubles, and the financing of programmes to reduce the death rate from cardiovascular illnesses will increase to 3.2 billion roubles".
"The principal objective is to achieve a financial balance and put in place free healthcare guaranteed by the state.”
"We channel significant resources into this sector. But, I repeat, the national project for health and pilot projects in the regions must become a basis for changing the system in this sector. And we have to be fully aware how each individual will benefit from these projects and how the quality of work of health professionals will change".
"For the last six years government spending on health in real terms has more than doubled, despite increasing inflation. At the same time GDP has increased 1.5 times, which means that spending on health is growing at priority rates".
"I have already spoken about the importance of combating such national scourges as drunkenness and smoking, especially among the young. I think that beginning from 2009 we should start financing measures to propagate a healthy way of life and encourage people to give up harmful habits".
"In public health, the main decisions will be connected with stepping up control of socially significant diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, diabetes and some other diseases. And of course they will be connected with an increase in hi-tech medical assistance".
"In fact it amounts to creating a general system of insurance for the provision of drugs. Under the system, the state will subsidise part of the price of the drug dose. But for this system to work we have to assess all the financial outlays, complete the development of standards of medical assistance and introduce the necessary monitoring system including, of course, quality assurance. It is necessary to protect the market from inferior and counterfeit products".
"I cannot help mentioning another topic that is directly linked to the health and self-preservation of the nation. Smoking and drunkenness have become a real scourge for our country. Russia consumes twice as much alcohol and smokes twice as much as most developed countries. That evil should be fought, but not by imposing bans or raising prices. I think that we should not spare money for sport and the creation of good leisure facilities, and also for effective media campaigns to promote a healthy way of life. What is needed is for the state to commission such work. The problem cannot be solved by mere exhortation".
"We cannot be satisfied with the current level of accessibility and quality of medical assistance as well as the continuing lack of patient rights".
"In 2010 consolidated budget expenditure on education will reach almost 2 trillion roubles, and on public health, also 2 trillion roubles. That is several times more than only a few years ago. The spending on education will grow by four times and on healthcare by four and a half times compared with 2004".
