Medvedev to chair panel session on innovations in child healthcare

MOSCOW, May 24 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will
hold a session of the Commission on modernization and technological
development of the economy of Russia at the Sechenov medical university
here on Tuesday. The theme of the panel's session is "Innovative
Technologies in Child Health Care".
Throughout May, Medvedev has been actively tackling the theme of
medicine for children, visiting hospitals and maternity homes and
conversing with doctors. The President also held conferences on matters
concerning the developent of the children's health care system. The
results of the conferences will be summed up at a joint meeting of the
Presidium of the State Council and the Commission on Priority National
Projects on May 30.
The main report at Tuesday's session will be made by Tatyana Golikova,
Minister of Health and Social Development. Speeches are also to be made by
Viktor Khristenko, Minister of Trade and Industry, Luis Jodar,
vice-president of the Pfizer Company's subdivision for vaccines and
medical technologies, and Alexander Shuster, Chairman of the Board of
Directrors of Generium.
Presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich said the session would take place
at the Museum of the History of Medicine of the First Moscow State Medical
University named after I. M. Sechenov.
"The session will deal with not just research and development, not
simple talk about the need for changes in the legislation of the Russian
Federation but will concern matters aimed at developing and introducing
technologies that will save the life of children and help them to stay
healthy," Dvorkovich said.
Medvedev's aide said the development of new technologies and vaccines
would be discussed, first of all. "Within the framework of the strategy
for the development of health care, there are important plans to extend
the national calendar of inoculations and the production of vaccines,"
Dvorkovich pointed out. Russia will seek to produce the bulk of vaccines
in the country's territory, drawing on the experience gained in this
respect by large foreign companies, he said.
The other subjects for discussion at the session include the
manufacture of medical equipment in Russia, as well as the development of
nuclear medicine. It is also planned to discuss the introduction of new
techniques in hospitals and medical centers. "This applies to diagnosing,
prevention and treatment of most diverse ailments. Our approach is to
identify stage by stage the most critical spheres which are noted for the
greatest risks to the health of children and solve problems of those
segments (of the health care system) through most effective actions",
Dvorkovich said.
The presidential aide pointed out that 142,000 million roubles would
be assigned for medicine for children within two years. In future, the
financing of children's health care system will be augmented, Dvorkovich
added.