Izvestia: "Putin lends a “shoulder” to doctors"
The prime minister criticises healthcare officials for carelessness.
Vladimir Putin visited Smolensk on August, 25 where he chaired a meeting on the modernisation of healthcare system. Before hearing the official reports, the prime minister decided to see the situation at Russian outpatient hospitals for himself. This became a convenient pretext for Putin to visit a doctor himself. In the morning, before the meeting, he strained his shoulder performing a forward roll during his tatami workout. It was obvious that the prime minister had a shoulder problem even before he admitted to it – he has been seen in the past clutching his injured arm every now and then. This is the price he had to pay for the enthusiasm he has for sports. After the misfortunate forward roll, Putin exacerbated his trauma while working out.
"I strained my shoulder. Can you take a look at it?" Putin asked the hospital's head doctor.
A specialist who was immediately summoned to examine the prime minister's injured shoulder applied a local anesthetic and prescribed the use of an ointment. Thanks to the treatment he received, Putin was feeling much better during the meeting. But he was not in a peaceful mood.
The prime minister criticised the governors who are lagging behind schedule in construction of local hospitals and maternity clinics. According to Putin, 113 billion roubles have been allocated for the construction of such centers. The funds were transferred to the regions long ago, but local authorities are delaying project development.
"We are already purchasing medical equipment and renovating hospital buildings under this modernisation program, so we should not delay construction any further," Vladimir Putin said to the governors. "Projects are being considerably delayed in some places, while the working conditions provided to every region are almost the same. Only 13% of the allocated funds have been spent by the end of August. The pace of work should be intensified."
The governors were visibly embarrassed. But the prime minister went further and decided to bring the regional officials face to face with common people who have to wait in hospital queues for hours. In a new effort to grab the attention of governors, a documentary film was shown during the meeting, which depicts the many hours people spend on a single hospital visit.
"We come at five in the morning to reserve a place in a queue to get our slips," a woman complained.
"The "diabetes queue" is always there. Today the situation is better," another woman said pointing out at a crowd of people waiting to have their blood drawn.
The prime minister ordered to abandon the slip system as soon as possible. Electronic appointment system and electronic medical record cards are to be adopted instead.
"You see?" The prime minister asked when the documentary was over. "We already have the funding for IT, so we should adopt and implement new technologies as soon as possible. I know there is a shortage of specialists, but we must ensure that people do not stand in queues to get a medical appointment."
The prime minister personally looked into the matter of every Central Federal District governor's work on construction of new maternal clinics. Pavel Ipatov, the governor of the Saratov Region, got most of the flak.
"The situation in the Saratov Region is simply outrageous. I thought these kinds of delays were already a part of our past. In December, I got a report saying the center has been commissioned. Later, I found out that the report was rushed, and they promised to complete construction by May 1. Currently, I have received an updated schedule saying that the center will be commissioned on December 31," the prime minister said indignantly.
Ipatov was listening to the criticism via video conferencing from the very maternity clinic under question.
"What kind of an attitude is that?" Vladimir Putin asked. The governor promised to complete the project in time, but the prime minister answered him in medical terms. "Somebody needs brain transplantation, specifically, the person who commissioned an operational acceptance certificate for a building with incomplete engineering systems."
On that day, the prime minister criticised all governors, including those from regions with successful projects. Putin reminded them that they are personally responsible for the punctual fulfillment of healthcare modernisation projects.
Pavel Baranov
