Meeting with Deputy Prime Ministers: On the programme for the development of perinatal centres; on the fulfilment of Presidential Instructions for the Russian Far East; on the simplification of the procedure for connecting to electrical networks.
Dmitry Medvedev’s introductory remarks
Transcript:
Meeting with deputy prime ministers
Dmitry Medvedev: I’d like to say a few words at the beginning of the meeting.
I have signed several directives on demographic issues and support for motherhood and children. This is not just an important issue, which goes without saying.
We have been working on this for the past seven years, which is not a long period. However, we can already report the first results. Many efforts have been taken to improve the situation, both in the healthcare and social spheres.
Today, I’d like to say that we have prepared a new stage of the Perinatal Centres Programme, which provides for building 32 perinatal centres in 30 regions that badly need them by 2016 and for training specialists for them. I’d like to remind you that in the past four years we have opened 22 perinatal centres, which has greatly lowered the maternity and infant mortality rate. Our new plan provides for building 32 centres.
Dmitry Medvedev: "In the past four years we have opened 22 perinatal centres, which has greatly lowered the maternity and infant mortality rate. Our new plan provides for building 32 centres."
The regions really want to do this, and they have sent many requests to the Government. We are starting to implement this programme, and funding under this will be considerable, even despite existing problems and without investments from the regional budgets – over 50 billion roubles. The principal task is the same – to reduce maternal and infant mortality, and to ensure the provision of medical services and the use of technologies, which may not be widespread but are vital, such as for saving extremely low birth weight infants. This programme is designed to ensure that in case of need women can give birth to their babies in special perinatal centres, which should improve the overall (demographic) situation.
And second, I’d like to say that I have signed a number of documents on neonatal issues, including neonatal surgery. The issue concerns the funding of the National Children’s Health Centre, which was traditionally accountable to the Academy of Medical Sciences. We are now changing this situation, but this must not affect the quality of medical services provided at the centre. This is why we will allocate additional funds and take the necessary decisions. Ms Golodets (Olga Golodets), I am asking you to monitor this issue.
One more current issue concerns the situation in the Russian Far East, which was hit by a devastating flood this year. It was an extremely dangerous situation.
This situation was simply unique in terms of its danger. We did a lot to conduct disaster relief operations. We concentrated financial resources, and we also conducted search-and-rescue and cleanup operations.
Today, we must be absolutely confident that all of the funding has reached the people, that they have received the required payments and, that, as you and we have agreed, adequate living conditions have been created for so far homeless persons during the construction of new homes and residential buildings, and that all of the instructions stipulated by the relevant Presidential Executive Order and Government instructions have been fulfilled. Mr Trutnev regularly chairs meetings on this issue. As I see it, a meeting was held last week. Please brief us on the situation, and on how these decisions are being fulfilled.
Yury Trutnev: Mr Medvedev, colleagues. Acting in accordance with standard deadlines, the commission has drafted and submitted an intermediate report on the fulfilment of the Presidential Instructions. They contain 27 clauses, and virtually all of them are fulfilled in full volume and in line with standard deadlines. Nevertheless, the people are worried about some issues. All were analysed in great detail at the Commission’s meeting in Birobidzhan last week.
What would I like to mention? First, some people have submitted requests for the payment of material assistance and compensations only in November. This is primarily linked with the lack of legal documents and court cases. In all, 6,000 people have submitted their requests this November. Thus, the number of affected persons will reach 183,000. We will need small additional funding. Naturally, this funding is small as compared to those sums that have already been paid. All documents have been drafted and submitted to the Government.
Yury Trutnev: "Construction sites are being prepared in all affected regions, and we provide utility connections and all required project documents. All of the work is proceeding quickly. To date, we don’t perceive any risks that the sites will not be prepared."
Second, a commission responsible for inspecting homes and residential buildings has not passed its verdict on some homes and buildings because they can only be inspected once again in spring when the water recedes completely, when it dries away and when the foundations are checked. We have instructed the concerned officials to provide exhaustive information to all residents. This is a small number, but it exists.
Furthermore, the state of the infrastructure is the most important issue at the moment. Winter has come to the Russian Far East, and the weather is already quite severe in some areas. All utility infrastructure and vital facilities are operating as usual, and we do not see any serious threats so far.
Moreover, we continue to monitor the creation of essential living conditions for homeless persons. During our trips, we visit temporary camps for displaced persons all of the time, and we have few critical remarks. People there live inside warm facilities, they receive medical attention, psychological counseling, and food. Nevertheless, preparations for construction are, naturally, the most important issue. Construction sites are being prepared in all affected regions, and we provide utility connections and all required project documents. All of the work is proceeding quickly. To date, we don’t perceive any risks that the sites will not be prepared. We have noted separately the need for detailed work to select contractors – all the more so as legislation is currently being modified, and a new law on awarding state contracts is being drafted. We need to consider this factor in our work. The commission has decided that all homeless persons should receive new housing up to September 30, 2014.
The extension of loans for agricultural producers is probably the only unresolved issue. Mr Medvedev, we have submitted a report on this issue to you. There are some problems with interest rates in this regard. We believe that this is necessary and this can be resolved in the interests of the people.
Dmitry Medvedev: "The launching of this project will reduce utility connection deadlines. This is important – all the more so as this is part of our roadmap Improving Access to Energy Infrastructure."
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you. As for the repeat inspection mentioned by you – I remember you and I came in and talked with the people – we should see to it that this does not turn into a boring, sluggish bureaucratic procedure, so that the worthiness of buildings is determined objectively, so that it will not be understated or overstated because such processes happen from time to time. We need an objective picture that makes it possible to adopt a final decision on the payment amount. We will also discuss loans and specific actions today.
Here is another issue concerning utility connections, dealing with the housing and municipal utilities sector, etc. I am also drawing attention to this issue because – from now on – applications for utility connections can be submitted online. I have signed this document. Certainly, the launching of this project will reduce utility connection deadlines. This is important – all the more so as this is part of our roadmap Improving Access to Energy Infrastructure. We have recently assessed them, and it should be admitted that we have made substantial headway on this roadmap, especially if we look at all sorts of indicators. This concerns specific payments and deadlines. Nevertheless, we still have to focus on a number of issues and objectives. Mr Dovrokovich (Addressing Arkady Dvorkovich), please tell us how this document will be implemented.
Arkady Dvorkovich: "Over 650,000 applications are filed annually. These are individuals, mainly small business owners. Over 90% of the applications are for up to 150 kW. This decision will reduce the time and cost of signing up for grid connection. People will not have to go down to the grid companies, file written applications, and then go back to pick up the necessary documents."
Deputy prime ministers Arkady Dvorkovich and Yury Trutnev
Arkady Dvorkovich: Mr Prime Minister, colleagues.
According to the Government Resolution you signed, beginning on 10 March consumers will be able to sign up for power grid connection on the internet. Over 650,000 applications are filed annually. These are individuals, mainly small business owners. Over 90% of the applications are for up to 150 kW. This decision will reduce the time and cost of signing up for grid connection. People will not have to go down to the grid companies, file written applications, and then go back to pick up the necessary documents. Moreover, they will be able to track the progress of their applications on the internet without having to make any calls or send letters, or interact with the staff of grid companies.
We have moved up over 70 spots in the international ranking to 117th place, which is still far from good. But we had been near the bottom before.
Dmitry Medvdev: And now we are in the middle.
Arkady Dvorkovich: Yes, the middle.
Dmitry Medvedev: The difficulty of connecting to the power grid has been something of a byword, and the source of as much anger as construction issues.
Arkady Dvorkovich: This is true, but we need to move on. Today the process still takes 160 days in general, and we should lower this number further to 40 days. The ability to file and track applications on the internet will reduce this period by a few days.
In addition, we have prepared a resolution on gas grid distribution. It will be submitted for your signature within a few days. It also seeks to reduce wait time and costs, and create clarity with respect to tariff regulation, methods and standards. There will no longer be the big variations in connection fees between different regions and even neighbouring areas that we see now. Both individuals and businesses will be able to connect to gas networks with greater ease.
Dmitry Medvedev: I see. We should continue working on issues of power and gas supply. We understand that we have subjective limitations which we have mostly eliminated, and that has helped us to move forward, but we also have objective problems related to the condition of the networks themselves and the size of our country. Obviously it’s more difficult for us to provide network connection than in Central Europe, for instance, but we can still make progress. Not for the sake of rankings or business indexes, though we also pay attention to them, but for the sake of convenience and a normal business climate.
Let’s keep working on this. Thank you.
<…>
