Mikhail Mishustin: “The coronavirus situation throughout the country remains tense. In accordance with the President’s instructions, the Government is updating the action plan. It is aimed at preventing the spread of the new strain and includes not only sanitary and epidemiological measures, but also comprehensive solutions to protect people’s health.”
Meeting of the Presidium of the Governmental Coordination Council to control the incidence of the novel coronavirus infection in the Russian Federation
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
The coronavirus situation throughout the country remains tense. The incidence of the disease increased in 11 regions last week.
The situation has been complicated by the appearance of a new coronavirus strain in many countries. It is not yet clear how this can influence the overall situation, but we must prepare for any turn of events.
In accordance with the President’s instructions, the Government is updating the action plan. It is aimed at preventing the spread of the new strain and includes not only sanitary and epidemiological measures, but also comprehensive solutions to protect people’s health.
We will be acting in several areas within the framework of additional measures. First of all, we must erect barriers and slow down the spread of the new coronavirus variant in the country, as well as increase the production of test kits for the diagnosis and early identification of this infection.
We will continue to maintain the healthcare infrastructure readiness throughout the country.
Furthermore, we will update the current coronavirus treatment recommendations based on international experience.
Ms Golikova (Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova), today we will discuss the measures that should be added to this document. We need to complete this work and forward the updated action plan, with due regard for the results of our discussion today, to the President.
We must continue to make sure that the regions have the necessary amounts of medicines, oxygen and PPEs. There must also be a reserve of hospital beds. I would like the heads of regions to pay special attention to this.
It is extremely important to maintain the stability of our healthcare system, so that hospitals and outpatient clinics in all Russian regions can work sustainably under any circumstances.
The Government has allocated an additional 89 billion roubles for the mandatory medical insurance system. These funds will be used above all for the treatment of covid patients. People in all Russian regions will receive this service free of charge under the mandatory medical insurance policy.
I would like to mention one more decision. We have drafted a government resolution to extend the simplified procedure for the import and registration of medical items needed for the treatment of coronavirus cases. It was introduced in April 2021 and will now be extended for three years. This will prevent the shortage of medical supplies and test kits, PPEs, ventilators and other items. The overall list includes some 450 medical items needed to help patients.
