Excerpts from
transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
Meeting of the Presidium of the Government Coordinating Council to control the incidence of the novel coronavirus infection in the Russian Federation
On Wednesday we
discussed the rate of the spread of coronavirus infection in Russia at a
meeting with the President.
Unfortunately,
the incidence rate is increasing in most Russian regions. The situation remains
difficult. We continue to increase the level of testing for coronavirus. It is
necessary to ensure early detection of the virus and to provide care to those
infected. It is important to have a reserve of hospital beds for patients with
the coronavirus. I would like to once again ask the heads of the regions to be
proactive and to promptly respond to any changes. Do not wait until there is a
shortage of beds for patients but forecast the demand and increase the bed
reserve. And, of course, follow doctors’ recommendations on additional measures
to protect people from the coronavirus.
On the decision
of the President, since last year, free medicines have been provided to
patients who are being treated at home. The Government has additionally
allocated about 2.5 billion roubles for the Russian regions to purchase the
necessary medicines for them. This will provide medicines for almost 790,000.
In line with the
President’s instructions, we are continuing to update ambulance fleets in the
regions. A lot of hospitals lack ambulances, and those they have are in poor condition.
Due to their scarcity, especially in remote and rural areas, people have to wait
too long for doctors to arrive, which poses huge health risks. It need not be like
this. The Government has allocated over 5.5 billion roubles to purchase at
least 1,600 ambulances.
