On reducing tuberculosis deaths.

The President’s Executive Order No. 598 of May 7, 2012, On Improving State Policy in Healthcare (Clause 1, Subclause A) establishes the target of reducing the tuberculosis mortality rate to 11.8 per 100,000 people by 2018.

The Government reports that the state programme Healthcare Development (approved by Government Directive No. 2511-r of December 24, 2012) provides for a range of efforts to improve the system of prevention and early detection of diseases and extending medical care to the population. Regional executive bodies have developed relevant roadmaps to improve healthcare efficiency. These roadmaps include main targets, including mortality rates for regions.

The Ministry of Healthcare conducts monthly monitoring of the TB mortality rate in regions.

In 2013, 5.05 billion roubles in federal funds have been allocated to federal executive bodies and federal budget institutions controlled by the Ministry of Healthcare, the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the Federal Correctional System for TB diagnosing and for purchases of antibacterial and antituberculosis drugs.

According to Government Directive No. 2523-r of December 25, 2012, funds were extended to 25 regional budgets in 2013. In addition, to co-finance antituberculosis efforts, federal funds were provided to 10 regions – 114.9 million roubles of the unspent subsidies allocated to regions in 2011 and 2012.

Over the six months of 2013, 32.18% of the population was checked for early detection of tuberculosis in regions.

The antituberculosis efforts have had a positive effect on the epidemic situation. From 2009 to 2012, the TB morbidity rate fell from 82.6 down to 68.1 cases per 100,000 people, while the mortality rate went from 16.8 to 12.4 deaths per 100,000 people. Over the first six months of 2013, the mortality rate for tuberculosis fell 6.39% compared with the same period of 2012.