OREANDA-NEWS. November 26, 2007. This roundtable discussion held under the auspices of the World Health Organization’s European Bureau was dedicated to the following topic: "Inequality of Access to Medical Aid". The participants, including representatives of the Presidential Administration, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, directors of the RAN and RAMN research institutions, have discussed the issue of varying access to medical aid for the RF residents, reported the press-centre of ROSNO.

ROSNO-МS was represented by the Executive Director Ms. Larisa Popovich and the Assistant General Manager Mr. Klimentij Kelmanzon.

In his report, Mr. Klimentij Kelmanzon provided analytical data showing the varying degree of access to certain types of medical aid among rural population, town and city residents. The speaker emphasized acuteness of the present difficulties in implementation of the various social groups’ rights to equal access to healthcare services in Russia.

In course of discussion of the research results obtained by the Independent Institute of Social Policy and the National Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) with regards to the Russians’ attitude towards various aspects of unequal access to medical aid, Ms. Larisa Popovich presented her view of the strategy for healthcare reforms applicable in the current situation, as well as possible ways to improve affordability of medical services rendered to the rural population.