Ambulance Services Failing to Get Russians to Hospitals Made More Distant by Putin’s Healthcare ‘Optimization’ Plan

Paul Goble

    Staunton, Apr. 13 –Putin’s healthcare “optimization” program has led to the closure of hospitals and medical points across Russia, an outcome that has made it more difficult for those who need care to get the treatment they need. That has been well-documented. But now problems with Russia’s ambulance services are compounding that problem.

    According to activists, experts and some Duma members, many ambulances are no longer arriving within the prescribed 20-minute time in cities or at all in rural areas, despite healthcare ministry claims to the contrary. That has contributed to much suffering and even death (versia.ru/v-minzdrave-zakryvayut-glaza-na-razval-skoroj-pomoshhi-v-regionax).

    The reasons for this include low salaries for medical workers on ambulances, bad roads, and the need to travel ever greater distances because of healthcare optimization. The last factor may be especially important and should be factored in by anyone analyzing what is happening to Russian healthcare as a result of Putin’s effort to find money for war.