February 13
- Infectious Diseases: How to Meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030? Although communicable diseases account for a smaller number of deaths in developed countries, they still result in substantial losses. In Russia, infectious diseases cause just 2% of deaths, but those who die are primarily young citizens of workin...
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Although communicable diseases account for a smaller number of deaths in developed countries, they still result in substantial losses. In Russia, infectious diseases cause just 2% of deaths, but those who die are primarily young citizens of working age. The intensive migration of the population and developed tourism exacerbate this problem. As a result, new infections are appearing and old ones are making a return in new forms that are resistant to known drugs. According to WHO’s global plan for 2030, it is essential to end the AIDS epidemic, eliminate the hepatitis virus, and significantly reduce tuberculosis infection and mortality rates. In order to meet these challenges, it is vital to continuously monitor the situation, to intensively develop scientific research, and to put in place developed infrastructure and qualified staff, together with powerful prevention programmes and affordable drugs. How can the targets in WHO’s global plan be met in Russia? What problems must be overcome with respect to organizing the work of an infection control service and providing it with resources? Are there any new vaccines and drugs that could in principle have an impact on reducing mortality and illness caused by infectious diseases? How can hospital-acquired infections best be fought?
- Insurance Companies in Healthcare: For and Against Healthcare can be funded by the state or by private wealth, including through voluntary medical insurance (VMI). State guarantees are paid via the budget and a system of compulsory medical insurance (CMI). Opinions differ as to the advantages of o...
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Healthcare can be funded by the state or by private wealth, including through voluntary medical insurance (VMI). State guarantees are paid via the budget and a system of compulsory medical insurance (CMI). Opinions differ as to the advantages of one system or the other, and every country must decide on its own solution. In Russia, CMI replaced the budgetary model more than 25 years ago. The money collected by CMI funds is allocated in accordance with established state law to medical institutions via private insurance companies. They are also responsible for monitoring the quality of healthcare, and for respecting and protecting the rights of the insured. Many experts believe, however, that these functions could be managed independently by CMI funds and the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (Roszdravnadzor). In other countries, the functions of insurance companies are far broader: they collect contributions and participate in the setting of tariffs, but, most significantly, they also bear the financial risks in the event of increased volumes of healthcare provision. For this reason, they have a direct interest in disease prevention and early detection. What model for financing state guarantees (budgetary or insurance-based) is optimal for Russia and why? What are the features of a fully-fledged CMI model? Who could shoulder the functions of insurance companies in the CMI sector? Could insurance representatives help patients? What are the prospects for voluntary medical and pharmaceutical insurance in the Russian Federation?
- Federal Project ‘Fighting Cancer’: 85 Regional Approaches Fighting cancer is currently one of the government’s top priorities. Cancer is the second leading cause of death and ranks third in terms of the number of years of life lost in Russia. According to WHO, the number of oncological diseases has incre...
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Fighting cancer is currently one of the government’s top priorities. Cancer is the second leading cause of death and ranks third in terms of the number of years of life lost in Russia. According to WHO, the number of oncological diseases has increased by roughly 15% over the last ten years, and cancer will be the top cause of death around the world over the next 5–7 years. The federal project ‘Fighting Cancer’ aims to reduce the mortality rate from tumours, including malignant tumours, to 185 cases per 100,000 people by 2024. In 2019, the regions will have to develop and launch regional programmes based on the specific issues they each face. What challenges do the regions face in developing specialized cancer programmes? What best practices can and should be used? What priorities should be set when developing programmes? What modern technologies can significantly increase effectiveness in preventing cancer?
- Reducing Mortality from Non-Communicable Diseases: Implementing Federal Projects Accredited by the Commission of the Coordinating Council for the Development of Continuing Medical Education The major non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death in Russia and represent a heavy burden for the national economy. The key objectives of the Healthcare National Project are to reduce mortality from cancer and cardiovascular diseas...
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The major non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death in Russia and represent a heavy burden for the national economy. The key objectives of the Healthcare National Project are to reduce mortality from cancer and cardiovascular disease and to combat the spread of diabetes. In order to achieve this, outpatient cancer care centres will be created, regional vascular centres and primary vascular care departments will be refurbished, nuclear medicine centres have been built, a sufficient amount of drug therapy has been provided for oncological diseases, and large-scale preventive measures will be conducted. Are the measures envisaged by the Healthcare National Project sufficient to significantly reduce mortality, morbidity, and disability from major non-communicable diseases? What are the risks of implementing federal projects that aim to reduce mortality from cancer and cardiovascular diseases? Are there new breakthrough medications for the treatment and prevention of non-communicable diseases? What is the role of the population and municipal leaders in preventing common diseases?
- Overcoming Gaps in the Quality of Healthcare: Staff and Management Accredited by the Commission of the Coordinating Council for the Development of Continuing Medical Education According to experts, low-quality healthcare is the third largest cause of death in the US. These indicators may be equally worrying in Russia. This can be avoided consistently and systematically by implementing measures to ensure access to health...
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According to experts, low-quality healthcare is the third largest cause of death in the US. These indicators may be equally worrying in Russia. This can be avoided consistently and systematically by implementing measures to ensure access to healthcare – especially in the primary healthcare system, where most episodes begin and end. The quality of care can be improved by increasing the level of qualifications earned by staff, implementing clinical recommendations, and creating a control system at all levels – from the national level down to specific organizations. The entire healthcare system is dependent on the effectiveness of primary healthcare. What challenges do the Healthcare and Demographics national projects pose for the medical training system? What skills will doctors need to possess by 2024? What is more effective in obtaining the best results from a practitioner – strict monitoring or positive motivation? How can information about healthcare quality be made as transparent as possible? How can staff shortages be overcome?
- The Digitalization of Healthcare: Investing to Save Lives Within the context of the project to create a single digital framework based on the Unified State Healthcare Information System, it is planned that a fully-fledged information system will be implemented in each of Russia’s 85 regions in accordance...
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Within the context of the project to create a single digital framework based on the Unified State Healthcare Information System, it is planned that a fully-fledged information system will be implemented in each of Russia’s 85 regions in accordance with uniform criteria. The complete digitalization of Russian healthcare will make it possible to accelerate the processes that take place within medical organizations, transfer the necessary information together with patients, and organize consultations without time and geographical limitations. Great hope is placed on the application of artificial intelligence technology in medicine, which will, in the near future, facilitate the transition to high-precision and individualized medicine. All this will change the face of healthcare and make it more effective. What role will medical organizations and regions play in the project to create a single digital framework? What stage has the development of highly intelligent medical technologies reached in Russia? How will full digitalization transform the healthcare provision system today and in the near future?
- A System of Universal Medicine Provision: Key to Achieving the National Goal Accredited by the Commission of the Coordinating Council for the Development of Continuing Medical Education Achieving life expectancy of 78 by 2024 is a multifaceted challenge, dependent to equal degrees on the population’s income level, lifestyle, and on the effectiveness of the healthcare system. Largely thanks to a system of medicine provision, devel...
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Achieving life expectancy of 78 by 2024 is a multifaceted challenge, dependent to equal degrees on the population’s income level, lifestyle, and on the effectiveness of the healthcare system. Largely thanks to a system of medicine provision, developed countries have mostly succeeded in increasing life expectancy over the last 20 years. In Russia, access to free drugs through doctors’ prescriptions is today enjoyed only by those citizens who receive social benefits or who suffer from specific illnesses. Government expenditure in Russia is three times lower in this respect than in European Union countries with a similar level of economic development. Implementing a system of universal medicine provision will help to stop serious illnesses from getting worse and leading to complications, reduce the use of more long-term forms of healthcare, and have a positive impact on social attitudes. How much needs to be spent on medicine supply on a national scale? What is the government’s role in this expenditure? What should the implementation of a universal medicine provision system begin with? How can long-term medicine needs be determined? Are there provisions for reducing the costs of medicinal products by increasing the volume of public procurement?
- Personalized Medicine: Could Scientific Research Become a Successful Business? In April 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation approved a concept of predictive, preventive, participatory, and personalized medicine, or P4 medicine. Today, it is seeing rapid growth in many countries, and the market for these se...
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In April 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation approved a concept of predictive, preventive, participatory, and personalized medicine, or P4 medicine. Today, it is seeing rapid growth in many countries, and the market for these services is increasing by 30% on average every year. The public–private partnership mechanism is an effective tool for implementing the concept. As global experience shows, collaboration between the state and business in various projects to modernize the healthcare system is more productive. In Russia, the integration of private investors into public healthcare is still in the early stages. Is it possible to develop personalized medicine in Russia through public–private partnerships? What form might financial models for attracting private capital to the healthcare system take? What P4 medicine services are likely to be developed in the near future?
