OREANDA-NEWS. On October 06, 2008, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) held a session of the Expert Council for Developing Competition in the Social Sphere and Health Care, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The session discussed proposals on changing the normative legal acts regulating medical services in the Russian Federation, with the aim to develop competition on the market of medical services and leveling the field for private, state and municipal medical institutions.

Speeches and presentations were given by Messrs Samoshkin and Kamenev, representatives of the First All-Russian Association of Private Medical Doctors, Mr Misyulin, the President of the Non-Commercial Partnership "Assisting unification of private medical centers and clinics", Mr Kheifits, the General Director of "ROKLI" Ltd., Mrs Alekseeva, the President of the Association of St Petersburg Clinics, and Mr Cherkasov, Deputy Director of the Legal Department of the Russian Ministry of Public Health and Social Development.

Summing up the discussion, the Expert Council formed the working groups to prepare amendments to the current legislation, regulating medical service in the Russian Federation. The amendments should eliminate discriminatory norms, which prevent private medical institutions from offering certain types of medical services.

It is expected that the working groups will draft the amendments in October-November 2008 and present them for the joint discussion of FAS Russia and the Russian Ministry of Public Health and Social Development.