Health services are funded at half the level recommended by the World Health Organization, and the population is decreasing by 600,000 per year. The State Duma announced a critical underfunding of medicine. Member of the Health Protection Committee, Alexey Kearney, recalled that the total government spending on health services in 2029-2027 will amount to 3.6-3.7% of GDP, and this figure has remained almost unchanged in recent years. In developed countries it is 8-10%, in economies similar to Russia in terms of development it is 5-6%. According to the deputy, Russian funding is almost three times that of developed countries and almost twice the level recommended by the World Health Organization. The decrease in population by the end of 2026, as he estimated, will again be about 600 thousand people. A budget account does not guarantee a turning point. According to Kearney, total health care costs from budgets at all levels will increase next year by 6%, that is, inflation is lower than expected, especially since it is higher this year. According to the draft budget, the federal treasury will reduce spending on health services by 3%, and a number of key projects will be cut by tens of percent: spending on the fight against cancer will decrease 12 times, on the development of health infrastructure by 30%. We've already looked at this data in more detail, as well as how regions are closing hospitals and cutting staff amid their deficits. The mechanism here is clear: when budgetary priorities shift to security and debt service, health services are among the items that are frozen or cut. Kearney describes the result using indicators in which Russia lags behind developed countries: mortality from cardiovascular diseases and cancer, mortality at working age. The target indicators, according to him, have traditionally been revised repeatedly towards worsening. For citizens the conclusion is straightforward. Less money means less equipment, drugs and doctors in the public system, which means more out-of-pocket payments, as evidenced by the rising costs of paid services and drugs.

Health services are funded at half the level recommended by the World Health Organization, and the population is decreasing by 600,000 per year. The State Duma announced a critical underfunding of medicine. Member of the Health Protection Committee, Alexey Kearney, recalled that the total government spending on health services in 2029-2027 will amount to 3.6-3.7% of GDP, and this figure has remained almost unchanged in recent years. In developed countries it is 8-10%, in economies similar to Russia in terms of development it is 5-6%. According to the deputy, Russian funding is almost three times that of developed countries and almost twice the level recommended by the World Health Organization. The decrease in population by the end of 2026, as he estimated, will again be about 600 thousand people. A budget account does not guarantee a turning point. According to Kearney, total health care costs from budgets at all levels will increase next year by 6%, that is, inflation is lower than expected, especially since it is higher this year. According to the draft budget, the federal treasury will reduce spending on health services by 3%, and a number of key projects will be cut by tens of percent: spending on the fight against cancer will decrease 12 times, on the development of health infrastructure by 30%. We've already looked at this data in more detail, as well as how regions are closing hospitals and cutting staff amid their deficits. The mechanism here is clear: when budgetary priorities shift to security and debt service, health services are among the items that are frozen or cut. Kearney describes the result using indicators in which Russia lags behind developed countries: mortality from cardiovascular diseases and cancer, mortality at working age. The target indicators, according to him, have traditionally been revised repeatedly towards worsening. For citizens the conclusion is straightforward. Less money means less equipment, drugs and doctors in the public system, which means more out-of-pocket payments, as evidenced by the rising costs of paid services and drugs.