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The efforts of Russia's health ministry to reform healthcare system so as to provide free medical services are discussed. This move is aimed at increasing the efficiency of health insurance system.

MOSCOW -- Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the overall health of Russia's population has taken a downturn as life expectancy declines and infectious diseases spread. However, pharmacy chain [...]

A health bill, modifying current health care benefit norms was passed in the Duma, the Russian parliament, amidst protests from the MPs, local authorities and general public. The public suspects that the money promised against the medical benefits may not reach those who are eligible.

The social benefits reforms initiated by the new ministry of healthcare and social development in Russia are aimed at benefiting up to 32 million people including vulnerable groups like pensioners, disabled children, patients with serious disease and war veterans.

Russia's 2003 budget for the health care industry has increased 18%. The 2003 budget will account for 31.4 billion rubles ($1 billion) for health care.

Russia will increase funding for AIDS/HIV treatment, monitoring and informations services in 2003, but some medical authorities believe the increase to 255 rubles ($8.2 million) will not be sufficient.

A nurse describes the adjustments she had to make during here time spent as a tuberculosis nurse specialist in Tomsk, Siberia. These included coping with the extreme cold, the poor working conditions and the low status of nurses in Russia. She was working for Merlin, a British medical charity giving emergency relief to disaster zones. TB incidence rates were running at 76 per 100,000, compared to less than 10 per 100,000 in England and the aim was to rationalize services and make them more effective.

Russian health workers are finding it very difficult to maintain high standards as the whole of the Russian health system is failing. Nurses in Russia are considered to be very lowly and in the present climate are often not paid by the authorities. Any money they receive comes directly from the patients. Doctors also receive little pay and are expected to carry out many of the tasks that are attributed to nurses in the west. Some British medical workers are attempting to provide support and information to their colleagues in Russia.

You can't buy health at the pharmacy This popular Russian saying got a second meaning and a new lease of life in the late 1980s. In those years Soviet citizens [...]