The agenda includes: minimising the spread of the coronavirus, arranging treatment of patients, paying medical workers and developing additional support measures for the economy.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks:
Meeting with deputy prime ministers
Good morning, colleagues. Last week, as a follow-up to the meeting with the heads of the federal regions, the President gave the Government a number of assignments both on minimising the spread of the coronavirus and on treating the sick as well as on developing support measures for the economy. We promptly got down to work on these assignments. I signed the government directive on providing the federal stock of hospital beds to the regions that determines which medical organisations will help the coronavirus patients. The heads of the federal regions should within the shortest possible time adopt the necessary regulations in order to be able to send patients there. I am instructing the Ministry of Health to constantly monitor how hospital beds in the regions are being used and to report daily to the Government on how the situation looks.
It is extremely necessary for us to support the medical workers who are risking their lives and health to assist coronavirus patients. On the President’s instruction I signed the government directive on the allocation of 50 billion roubles for additional payments to medical workers. This funding is also for those who work at the medical facilities subordinate to the federal executive authorities, including the security and law enforcement agencies.
We will also provide about 640 million roubles from the reserve fund for the equipment of repurposed beds in the medical facilities in one-factory towns and restricted administrative units for the treatment of coronavirus patients. Plans are to create over 630 such beds.
Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to one important aspect. The battle against the spread of the coronavirus is the main task of our health system. But, by no means should other patients be left without professional medical assistance.
Cancer, cardiovascular patients and people suffering from other serious chronic diseases should continue to receive skilled medical care: they will be transferred to other hospitals and clinics that specialise in their medical conditions.
I would like to ask the Health Ministry and the governors to follow this matter attentively.
A number of measures taken by us on the President’s instructions are intended to enable our economy, which is undergoing a strength test, endure these hard times with minimal losses and to preserve a potential for further development.
Specifically, now not only micro businesses, but also small- and medium-sized businesses are eligible for a deferral of premium payments to the social funds.
We are going to take one more decision today – the relevant draft resolution is already in place. For the small- and medium-sized businesses in the most affected sectors we will reschedule the payment of taxes and fees that are due over a period of the next six months. They will not have to pay everything within one day as soon as the six-month deferral is over. They will be allowed to pay in equal installments during the year following the end of the deferral, that is, in some cases practically until the end of 2021.
Of course, we are monitoring what is going on in the economy and we are taking the relevant decisions. On the President’s instructions we are working out additional measures to support people and businesses. In doing this, we are also taking into account the proposals sent by business associations to the Government. I would like to thank them for their work on this.
And the Government will present the relevant additional measures to the President this week.
Let’s now go over to discussing current issues.
