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Events

Vladimir Putin met with heart transplant patient Vera Smolnikova

June 29, 2012
16:00
The Kremlin, Moscow
Heart transplant patient Vera Smolnikova.
Vladimir Putin met with heart transplant patient Vera Smolnikova aged four.
Vladimir Putin met with heart transplant patient Vera Smolnikova aged four. Also present were Vera’s mother Irina, father Vladimir, and 13-year-old sister Sofya.
With heart transplant patient Vera Smolnikova aged four.
Vladimir Putin met with heart transplant patient Vera Smolnikova aged four. Also present were Vera’s mother Irina, father Vladimir, and 13-year-old sister Sofya.

The story of Vera Smolnikova from Novosibirsk struck a chord with people all around Russia. A bout of pneumonia left Vera with serious heart complications. In 2010, the girl was connected to artificial heart equipment at the Meshalkin Research Institute of Pathology of Circulation in Novosibirsk.

A heart transplant was Vera’s only real hope for survival, however, but heart transplants for children are not performed in Russia. Through a federal quota for medical treatment abroad, Vera thus left for Italy.

She received a donor heart in an operation performed in Italy in May 2011, and after undergoing a rehabilitation course, returned with her parents to Russia.

Her mother Irina, father Vladimir, and 13-year-old sister Sofya also came to the Kremlin to meet the President. Mr Putin proposed to talk with Vera and her family over a cup of tea.

The President noted, in particular, during the conversation, that Russian doctors “have the technical and professional ability to perform such operations”, but that, “we must improve the legislative base so as to make operations of this kind possible here in Russia too”.

Topics

  • Healthcare

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Published in section: News

Publication date: June 29, 2012, 16:00

Direct link: en.kremlin.ru/d/15811

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Official Website of the President of Russia:

Vladimir Putin met with heart transplant patient Vera Smolnikova

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/15811

Last updated at June 29, 2012, 19:12

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