The meeting discussed new legislative changes made to implement Federal Law No. 419-FZ of December 1, 2014, On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation concerning Social Protection for People with Disabilities Following Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and planned measures to improve access to facilities and services for people with disabilities.
Labour and Social Protection Minister Maxim Topilin presented a report in which he noted that legislative work in this area is nearly complete now at the federal level, and the regions have already adopted the needed laws and regulations and drafted action plans.
The Labour and Social Protection Ministry will monitor these plans’ implementation, together with the Education and Science, Culture, Healthcare, Construction and Housing and Utilities, Transport, and Justice ministries, and public organisations.
The meeting also examined the establishment of a federal register of people with disabilities, which is being set up in accordance with the federal law.
This register’s creation aims to improve the quality of state and municipal services, reduce waiting times, better inform people about their social protection entitlement rights, and give people the possibility of online feedback with the state organisations.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Gulnaz Kadyrova presented information on development of a modern sector producing goods for people with disabilities.
In particular, she noted the work carried out in 2015 and 2016 to support Russian producers of rehabilitation equipment under the state programme Development of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Industry over the period 2013–2020. Also, the Industry Development Fund offers preferential loans to manufacturers carrying out import replacement projects.
More than 1.1 billion rubles were spent on developing this sector in 2015, and this work will continue.