OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2012. Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, who oversees social issues in the Government.

The meeting addressed implementation of the healthcare modernisation programme which is nearing its completion.

The Deputy Prime Minister told the President that 629 billion rubles [over USD 20 billion] have been allocated for the programme from various sources. Within the framework of the programme, 33 new healthcare facilities have already been commissioned and 957 facilities have been renovated. More than 143,000 units of new equipment have been supplied to medical facilities.

The President stressed the importance of developing and staffing healthcare in rural areas.