Business programme 2022

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, Russia’s life expectancy fell for the first time since 2003, from 73.3 years in 2019 to 71.1 years in 2020. The indicator is expected to reach 78 by 2030, and achieving the breakthrough needed to increase life expectancy from 73 today to 78 years by 2024 is a key priority for the Russian healthcare sector. It will however require an enormous concentration of efforts from across society. What measures need to be taken today in order to reach this goal? How should the burden of responsibility for the health of the population be shared between the state, employers and citizens? What solutions need to be adopted in the healthcare system in order to meet the challenges of the day? Will digital technologies be able to help people fight for their own longevity alongside doctors?

The Government of the Russian Federation has approved a framework for the digital transformation of the social sector to 2025, which will streamline the IT systems of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation, and a number of institutions offering medical and social assessments. The new system will help citizens to access state services without applications or supporting documents. All processes related to the allocation and provision of state social support will be moved to the platform. Will the service model prove effective?

Health is the most important thing in life, but not everybody is able to follow a healthy lifestyle and avoid illness. Today, amidst the influence of the internet and mass participation in online life, it is more important than ever before that the health of the nation is supported and that sports and healthy lifestyles are promoted. What makes sport an important tool for personal development? Being healthy may be seen as fashionable, but how can healthy living become a natural and habitual part of life for the majority of Russia’s residents?

The task of preserving Russia’s population is of the highest national importance. At the same time Russia, like many other countries around the world, will face further population ageing along with a decrease in birth and death rates over the coming decades. These changes will have long-term socioeconomic implications. The solution to the problem of demographic decline should take into account a whole host of factors, including strategies to strengthen social security, efforts to reduce the risk of reproductive disorders, protect the health of newborns and create an environment conducive to good health, and educational activities promoting healthy lifestyles and responsible parenting. What can Russia do to respond to these challenges? What family support measures could drive Russia’s demographic development? What measures can help to reduce death rates, particularly among the male working-age population? How can the public be incentivized to lead a healthy lifestyle and take a responsible attitude towards health and parenting?

A barrier-free or universal environment means that everybody, including people with limited mobility, can make use of their immediate surroundings unassisted. This means that people have the opportunity to participate in the social, productive, cultural and sporting aspects of public life in the country, access a decent education and find skilled work, and lead a full and rich life without restrictions. Targeted efforts to create a barrier-free environment have been made in Russia for a long time. Changes are being made to federal and regional regulations, and funding is being allocated. Are these efforts sufficient? What measures need to be taken by the state and regions in order to genuinely remove barriers?

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions had a direct impact on migration flows in Russia. Net migration into Russia dropped sharply in 2020, while internal migration reached a nine-year low. Labour market competition has intensified in some sectors, while acute personnel shortages have been observed in sectors where foreign migrants have traditionally accounted for a large share of the workforce. How has the pandemic affected the mobility of the able-bodied and most economically active section of the population, both domestically (internal migration) and in terms of foreign workers arriving in Russia (external migration)? Which areas of economic activity have seen particularly drastic reductions in migrant worker numbers? How can the inflow of skilled labour into Russia be increased without disrupting the labour market?

The new national development goals closely mirror the Sustainable Development Goals, including in terms of efforts to sustain population levels, protect people’s health and wellbeing, ensure decent and productive work, and promote entrepreneurship. But how are they viewed by the people living in the country and what real outcomes are they expecting?

Healthcare development has accelerated dramatically in the context of the pandemic. Beneficiaries of the industry have acknowledged the current challenges and are willing to adopt joint strategies to embark on a path to the healthcare of the future. Modern healthcare is inextricably tied to the development of digital technologies and discoveries in molecular biology and medical genetics. Today, more and more solutions are emerging each day that bring breakthrough medical achievements closer to society and individual patients. We have seen the emergence of a powerful impulse driving the development of medicine and this is taking modern healthcare to an unprecedented new level, based on the principles of a patient-focused and personalized approach, the identification and prevention of disease threats, and efforts to build a healthy society. What opportunities does the development of medical technologies and smart medicine provide for all healthcare users? What are the prospects for developing genetic and biomolecular technologies in Russia and implementing them into clinical practice? To what extent is today’s regulatory framework ready for the transition of innovative medical technologies to a practical healthcare setting? What barriers to their development are still in place in the sector?

In recent years, the ESG agenda has established itself as a key component in the development strategies of major businesses. It is, however, important to understand that thinking about the right systems for sustaining human life is not only the responsibility of business, as all businesses are located in particular territories and specific regions. It is crucial that dialogue is established between businesses and the regions where they are based as concerns the implementation of ESG plans. The regions shoulder an additional strategic and coordinating burden in terms of combining the ESG strategies of all companies operating on their land and creating a synergistic effect. Discussions should be held to establish how government and business should work together to develop green platforms and which tools for interaction should be developed. How are the various areas of responsibility for solving environmental problems, issues of greening and other factors in creating a comfortable and safe living environment being delegated? How can the relevant investments that companies should be obliged to make in the territories be calculated? What is social impact investing for the sustainable development of the territories? How should businesses cooperate with the regions with respect to the ESG agenda? What would a system of interaction between the regions and business that could create an effective territorial strategy for the environmental recovery of the regions look like?