Excerpts from transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
Meeting of the Presidium of the Government Coordinating Council to control the incidence of the novel coronavirus infection in the Russian Federation
On Wednesday we discussed the rate of the spread of coronavirus infection in Russia at a meeting with the President.
Unfortunately, the incidence rate is increasing in most Russian regions. The situation remains difficult. We continue to increase the level of testing for coronavirus. It is necessary to ensure early detection of the virus and to provide care to those infected. It is important to have a reserve of hospital beds for patients with the coronavirus. I would like to once again ask the heads of the regions to be proactive and to promptly respond to any changes. Do not wait until there is a shortage of beds for patients but forecast the demand and increase the bed reserve. And, of course, follow doctors’ recommendations on additional measures to protect people from the coronavirus.
On the decision of the President, since last year, free medicines have been provided to patients who are being treated at home. The Government has additionally allocated about 2.5 billion roubles for the Russian regions to purchase the necessary medicines for them. This will provide medicines for almost 790,000.
In line with the President’s instructions, we are continuing to update ambulance fleets in the regions. A lot of hospitals lack ambulances, and those they have are in poor condition. Due to their scarcity, especially in remote and rural areas, people have to wait too long for doctors to arrive, which poses huge health risks. It need not be like this. The Government has allocated over 5.5 billion roubles to purchase at least 1,600 ambulances.
