OREANDA-NEWS. April 15, 2008. IC ROSNO-MS took part in the 9th International Scientific Conference on Economic Modernization and Globalization, held by the Higher School of Economics with participation of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, where, among other issues, the Conceptual Strategy for Modernization of Russian Healthcare System Until 2020 was discussed, reported the press-centre of IC ROSNO.

This document, prepared by the team of authors from the Higher School of Economics, including V. I. Shevsky, I. M. Sheiman and S. V. Shishkin, was discussed at the section "Russian Healthcare Concept", chaired by the Deputy Head of the RF Presidential Administration's Expert Department, Ms. N.B. Najgovzina.

The document's authors presented various directions for the Russian healthcare reform, dedicating a separate section to modernization of the medical insurance system. The authors proposed to transfer OMI insurer functions to the territorial OMI funds, mentioning that the basic OMI system must be complemented with various state-sponsored additional medical insurance programs to which the public can subscribe. At the same time, it is proposed to use the financial arrangements of the OMI system and divide financial risks between the state and insurers working with programs combining OMI and VMI.

In her speech, Ms. L.D. Popovich, First Deputy CEO/COO of OJSC ROSNO MS, representing medical insurance companies at the conference, turned the participants' attention to the deficiencies of the proposed scheme combining functions of the territorial funds and medical insurance companies in the OMI system. "…this structure will not be instrumental in improving OMI efficiency in Russia. We need to establish a system, where OMI and additional VMI services would be provided exactly by medical insurance companies. This will enable to make VMI programs more affordable to the general public and retain a financially interested and well-informed buyer -insurer — within the OMI system", said Ms. Popovich.

The discussion was attended by the Chairman of the Public Chamber Mr. L.M. Roshal, State Duma Deputy Mr. S.I. Kolesnikov, representatives of the Ministry of Healthcare, Ministry of Economic development, Higher School of Economics, Moscow State University, public associations and research organizations. The full text of this conceptual strategy has been provided at ROSNO MS website: WWW.ROSNO-MS.RU.