OREANDA-NEWS. April 13, 2009. Ms. Larisa Popovich, First Deputy CEO/COO of OJSC ROSNO-MS, took part in the roundtable discussion "Russian Healthcare: New Challenges and New Tasks", held at the 10th International Conference on Economic and Social Development Issues in the State University "Higher School of Economics", reported the press-centre of ROSNO.

The roundtable discussion was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development, RF State Duma, RF Public Chamber, Accounts Chamber, international and Russian expert organizations, scientific and medical community.

Discussing the report prepared by the experts of the Higher School of Economics, Ms. Larisa Popovich noted the need to revise certain provisions of the crisis recovery plan for the healthcare system presented in the report, and listed the number of measures which she deemed of most importance in the times of economic crisis.

In her speech, special attention was paid to choosing priorities in the healthcare system and arrangements for concentration and allocation of resources to the most important objectives, detailing the government’s obligations in terms of providing free medical aid, regulating provision of paid medical services to the general public, methods of preservation of drug availability and affordability against the backdrop of unfolding crisis.