OREANDA-NEWS. July 14, 2008. The agenda focused on modernising and developing Russia’s healthcare system.

In his remarks at the meeting Mr Medvedev said the Government must set the priorities in this area and provide them with the necessary funding. The President said that priorities include providing timely and genuinely professional medical care and carrying out effective prevention work. Developing competition in the healthcare sector, improving the wage payment system for people employed in the sector and introducing new medical technology are all areas requiring serious attention, Mr Medvedev said. 

The meeting also looked at ways to improve the medical insurance system.

The President said that work on Russia’s social and economic development concept for the period through to 2020 is nearly complete and it gives prominent place to healthcare. Furthermore, a separate state healthcare development programme for the same period is also being drafted.

Taking part in the meeting were First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, Health and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova, Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina, and Presidential Aide Arkady Dvorkovich.

The meeting took place at the Klin Town Hospital. Before it began, Mr Medvedev, together with Mrs Golikova and the hospital’s chief doctor, Alexei Labutin, visited the hospital’s new buildings.