800,000 Russians Dying from Heart Disease Each Year, Many of Whom Might have Been Saved had They been Able to See a Cardiologist in Time, Galkin Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, May 28 – Some 800,000 Russians are currently dying from heart disease and circulatory problems each year, many of whom might have been saved had they been able to get an appointment with a doctor, according to German Galkin, a journalist with heart problems who was told he’d have to wait three months to see a specialist.

            Galkin says that his problem is minor and so the delay in getting an appointment is more an annoyance than anything else; but he says he believes the reductions in the number of cardiologists especially outside of major cities is costing the lives of others who have more serious problems and might have been saved (svpressa.ru/society/article/466119/).

            In his region, the Southern Urals, there is a severe shortage not only of cardiologists but of therapists, pediatricians, and psychiatrists. This reflects both the privatization of health care, the decisions of doctors to move to cities where they can make more money, and Putin’s healthcare optimization program which has reduced the number of such doctors.

            According to Galkin, officials in his region say that “residents are massively complaining about the inaccessibility” of medical institutions and doctors. These complaints are especially numerous in rural areas which have seen their hospitals and medical points close, but they come from urban residents as well.

            For discussions of how this shortage of medical personnel is affecting Russians, see windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2025/04/nearly-90-percent-of-russians-say.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2024/05/making-putins-healthcare-optimization.html, and windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/10/mobilization-order-hurting-russian.html.