As part of implementing Presidential Executive Order No. 474 On National Development Goals of the Russian Federation through 2030 of July 21, 2020, Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin chaired meetings of the State Council working groups on healthcare, transport, the economy and finances, and social policy, to discuss any modifications of the national projects.
In his opening remarks to the Working Group on Healthcare, Igor Levitin noted that adjustments to the national project were necessary to increase the accessibility and quality of medical services in the Russian regions. He also noted the relevance of including measures to ensure free (or subsidised) medications to outpatients receiving medical treatment.
Head of the working group and Governor of the Ivanovo Region Stanislav Voskresensky presented the working group’s proposals with regard to increasing the healthcare system’s preparedness for outbreaks of contagious diseases, natural and manmade disasters, as well as developing technologies to substitute inpatient care, including telemedicine.
Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko reported on organising medical treatment for COVID-19 patients, developing primary medical and sanitary care and infectious disease services in the regions, improving collection and presentation of statistical data in healthcare, and improving funding mechanisms for medical organisations.
Presidential Advisor Alexandra Levitskaya pointed out that it is necessary to build a unified system of biological security in Russia.
The proposals on adjusting the Healthcare national project, presented by representatives of the Higher School of Economics and regional executive bodies, concerned funding the industry, alleviating the shortage in the workforce and developing information technologies in the healthcare system.
Participants of the State Council Working Group on Transport discussed fulfilling the President’s directives issued after a State Council meeting on June 26, 2019, and updating the performance indicators of the Safe and High-Quality Roads national project.
Transport Minister Yevgeny Ditrikh presented a report on the two issues. He noted that the work in the regions is generally going according to schedule and all the performance indicators planned for 2020 will be achieved.
First Deputy Minister of the Interior Alexander Gorovoi supported the initiative of the Ministry of Transport Public Council Chair Mikhail Blinkin with regard to adjusting the project’s performance indicators on road safety.
Head of the working group and Head of the Republic of Buryatia Alexei Tsydenov said he believes that developing a new programme and a plan to implement the President’s Executive Order will require synchronising target indicators with the main parameters of the Safe and High-Quality Roads national project and the Comprehensive Plan for Upgrading and Expanding the Mainline Infrastructure.
During the meeting of the State Council Working Group on the Economy and Finances, it was noted that adjusting the Labour Productivity and Employment Support as well as International Cooperation and Exports national projects is necessary due to significant changes in the macroeconomic and budgetary conditions for achieving the respective national goals, as these conditions are substantially different from the 2018 forecasts. Therefore, it is needed to balance the objectives and resources anew.
Head of the working group and Governor of Chelyabinsk Region Alexei Teksler outlined the tasks for the working group with regard to modifying the national projects. He also stressed the importance of determining the deadlines and scope of funding on which achieving the set goals depends. He also reported on the proposals regarding drafting regional budgets and building inter-budgetary relations for the purpose of equalising the conditions for socioeconomic development and stimulating investment activity in the regions.
First Deputy Finance Minister Leonid Gornin presented the Finance Ministry’s take on financial support for the regions, including when it comes to developing independent sources of revenue for the regional budgets.
Chair of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes Andrei Makarov highlighted the importance of federal support during the time when regional budget revenues have decreased significantly, and the regions’ debts and the expenses related to countering the coronavirus are growing.
Participants in the State Council Working Group on Social Policy discussed the regions’ proposals on adjusting the Demography national project.
Deputy Minister of Labour Olga Batalina reported on the priority measures of social support for families, including those who lost their income due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and on efforts to reduce unemployment in the regions.
Head of the working group and Governor of the Novgorod Region Andrei Nikitin outlined new tasks and priorities stemming from the recent amendments to the Russian Constitution. He drew the participants’ attention to the problem of poverty in the regions and announced a new area of focus for the working group, which is reproductive health and active social longevity.
Governor of the Amur Region Vasily Orlov presented proposals on improving the migration policy aimed at achieving the goal of ensuring steady population growth by 2030.
All the proposals prepared by the State Council working groups will be analysed and thoroughly discussed in cooperation with the deputy prime ministers responsible for the respective national projects (programmes) and subsequently reported to the President before October 30, 2020.