Meeting of the Government Coordination Council to control the incidence of the novel coronavirus infection in the Russian Federation
Excerpt from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
The situation regarding the coronavirus in Russia has remained stable for several weeks in a row. However, we can see the developments in a number of American, European and Asian countries. The incidence rate is growing again and a record number of cases are being recorded. The beginning of the third wave has already been announced.
A number of experts warn of possible risks of deterioration, including in Russia. It is important to prevent such a scenario in our country. In order to do so, it is necessary to promptly take measures to protect people from the infection, to respond immediately, and, of course, to increase the rate of vaccination. The supply of another Russian vaccine to the Russian regions has already begun. Vaccination is an opportunity to take care of your own health and avoid the grave consequences of the disease. Now is the time to do it.
The fight against the coronavirus continues. But even in these conditions, our medical organisations are returning to their regular work schedule. Medical and preventive examinations have been resumed.
The government continues to take measures to increase the quality and accessibility of health care for all patients. We are doing this with a focus on countering the coronavirus.
The Healthcare Development national programme was updated, its parameters brought in line with the federal budget for this year and the next two years, as well as in line with the common plan for achieving national development goals.
Special priority was given to modernising primary medical care, as instructed by the President. At least 500 billion roubles will be allocated for this modernisation in the next five years, including 90 billion this year.
The plan includes building or renovating over 1,000 healthcare facilities as soon as this year. A similar number of facilities will undergo major renovation. More than 25,000 units of medical equipment and 4,000 ambulances will be purchased.
We updated the rules for providing federal subsidies to the regions for modernising their primary care facilities. These funds can be spent on modular construction of buildings for healthcare providers as well as on buying offices. This should expedite the opening of new paramedic centres, outpatient clinics and other primary medical care facilities. This is where patients go first when they need help. They must be provided with qualified medical care administered in the proper conditions.
Another extremely important issue is children with severe, rare disorders. It is tough enough for these children and their parents and our goal is to support them. We can help provide young patients with expensive medications and medical devices. For this purpose, the President initiated a special foundation, the Circle of Kindness.
In February, the Government allocated the first installment of funds (10 billion roubles) to purchase medications. Thanks to the Circle of Kindness, among other things, four regions have already received needed drugs. Within the next month, children in other regions will also receive the medication they need.
This foundation is new and it is important to wisely organise its operation so that help will be efficient and the procurement and supply of medications will be transparent. There can be no disruptions or delays. A disease does not wait. Children need this treatment.
This is why the Government will endorse the procedure for the purchase of medications and medical goods for children with serious diseases. Zones of responsibility for the foundation’s trusteeship and expert councils will be determined as well as their obligations under the Presidential executive order. All information on children that require assistance under the Circle of Kindness foundation must be collected on a special data resource. It will contain data both at the federal and regional levels. It will be possible to see what medications have been purchased for a child and the results of the treatment. This will make the foundation’s work as transparent and understandable as possible. We will endorse the rules for managing this information resource.
Colleagues, until herd immunity to the coronavirus develops, it is necessary to continue doing everything we can to keep people safe.
The Government will establish a special procedure for granting state and municipal services by the end of the year. It will be similar to what we had last year. It will be possible to receive most frequently requested services remotely. I am referring primarily to the distribution of pensions and allowances, different payment benefits and reimbursements. The Pension Fund and the Social Insurance Fund will be able to adopt simplified rules for identifying applicants.
People must find it easy to receive government services anytime, not just during the pandemic. We must analyse what remote services are requested the most and, of course, keep them in place. We should not transfer everything to an online format. People should be able to choose whether to receive these services online, by telephone or in person by visiting an integrated government service centre or a respective agency.
I would like to ask Mr Grigorenko and Mr Chernyshenko to focus on this.
Although the situation with the spread of the coronavirus is stable and free of fluctuation, there is no further reduction in the disease rate. The virus has not retreated. It is very important to continue observing the precautions. We must do all we can to protect people from this dangerous disease. Russia has developed not one but several effective vaccines. They are used with success in our country and are in demand abroad. Today, vaccination is the most reliable protection. We will stop the spread of this dangerous virus much quicker if we are vaccinated more actively, as I have said many times. It is impossible to predict the course of the disease and some cases are severe. People who became sick and were taken to hospital admitted many times that they regretted not getting the vaccine. We wish to see a reduction in these cases.
I am addressing every citizen in the country now – those who have already recovered from the virus and those who haven’t been sick. The coronavirus is a dangerous disease and not everyone gets it in a mild form. Many of those who have traversed an uphill road to recovery would have preferred being vaccinated to protect themselves. They would certainly echo my words: it is better to be vaccinated early than to get treatment for the coronavirus and its severe consequences. Do not leave it to chance. Voluntary, free vaccinations are available in all regions on Presidential instruction and you must use this opportunity, all the more so since about 9,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every day.
