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Seventh Forum of “Movement Against Cancer”: regionalization of health – improvement of cancer care or decreasing of its availability?

30.01.2014

On February 4-5, in Moscow, at Digital October Center the Seventh Forum of “Movement Against Cancer” will be held. The event is held annually on the World Cancer Day and brings together the leading Russian and foreign oncologists, representatives of relevant government agencies, public and patient organizations, leaders of pharmaceutical associations.

Currently, the Forum has become the largest expert ground in Russia where the key issues in the field of health care are discuss, and in particular those of cancer and the ways are proposed to effectively address the most pressing issues affecting the interests of millions of Russian citizens - cancer patients, their relatives and friends. This year, the Forum will focus on the regionalization of health care, new budgetary policy, problems of availability of diagnostics, medical care and medicines for cancer patients, as well as the search for effective mechanisms of public-private partnership.
“Right now the healthcare in Russia is undergoing many reforms and the Forum ‘Movement Against Cancer’ traditionally raises the most acute problems of this sector”, said Dmitry Borisov, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Association of Oncologists and executive director of the nonprofit partnership “Equal Right to Life”. “We are concerned about the deterioration of the quality of life of cancer patients who experience difficulties in obtaining medications and timely medical care. Unfortunately, the process of regionalization of health care, which came into force and started this year, only exacerbates these problems: the regions are not able to fully perform their obligations regarding to the treatment of patients. As of today, the key element in cancer control in Russia is to solve the problem of adequate drug provision for cancer patients. And we believe that the proposals developed during the Forum will help to do this. At the same time, we are encouraged by the measures that have already been taken in Russia over the past few years: the implementation of a range of public health programs, the creation and modernization of high-tech medical centers, introduction of public-private partnership schemes in practice”.
Following the results of the Forum, its participants will prepare an appeal to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, in which they will propose specific measures to optimize financing of the Russian health care, as well as to improve access to timely diagnosis, quality care and drug coverage.
In addition, this year's Forum will expand its borders by videoconferencing with St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk and Samara. Moreover, thanks to the Forum’s webcast on February 4, all people will have the opportunity to share their opinions on the topic of the event or send questions to the participants. The webcast and feedback forms will be available on the websites www.rakpobedim.ru and www.ravnoepravo.ru.