Paid ambulances in state hospitals illegal – activist

by at 17/01/2013 15:25

The Moscow News

Patient rights activists worry that paid ambulances set to appear in Moscow will supersede the free ones.

Earlier mass media reported that paid ambulance services could appear in Moscow from February 1.

Deputy Moscow Mayor on social issues Leonid Pechatnikov said the commercial ambulances may arrive faster than the free ones, their vehicles will be more comfortable and the doctors will be able to provide services that are now not included in the obligatory list.

However, the president of the All-Russia public organization League of patients’ protection, Alexander Saversky, said paid ambulances are a direct violation of the Constitution that says that all nationals have the right to free medical care in all state medical institutions.

“It is not only about the ambulances, but general legal rules. State municipal organization will provide paid for medical services based on what? We want to ask the Health Ministry and Prosecutor’s Office that. At the moment, according to Article 41 of the Constitution, the state provides free medical care in all municipal organizations,” he told RIA Novosti.

He said the appropriate letters will be sent to the Health Ministry and Prosecutor’s Office within two weeks.

Saversky said that the trend could finally supersede the free ambulances.

“It is inevitable once you start. Officials, who are paid from our taxes, spend time on creating paid ambulances that contradict the Constitution,” he added.

“Just you see what Pechatnikov is saying: they will drive faster, serve better, they will have additional equipment. And are we worse?”

However, the Heath Ministry insists that they will not allow only paid for ambulances.

New Year holidays are a week of horror – chief doctor

by Evgeniya Chaykovskaya at 27/12/2012 13:59

The Moscow News

Russia’s chief sanitary doctor warned people against the horrors of New Year and asked them not to drink any alcohol while celebrating.

 “We stand at the brink of a week of horror, when the majority of our country’s citizens will be left to their own demises. And there is no scarier enemy for our citizens than himself,” Gennady Onishchenko, also head of consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said at a Moscow press conference.

He said at best the people will spend their time “absolutely and pointlessly watching the TV screen” where “shows about murders are the most humane thing,” RIA Novosti reported.

Moreover, many Russians spend the New Year and Christmas holiday, which this time goes on from December 30 until January 8, by eating a lot of unhealthy food and drinking a lot of alcohol.

Onishchenko said he was sure that in 2013 laws that would curtail smoking and drinking in the country will be passed.

“I think the law on smoking will be passed, work within the alcohol policy will continue. Together we will limit the number of people who succumb to these evil passions – smoking and worshipping the pagan god Bacchus,” the sanitary doctor said, adding “we will not allow this to spread, especially among children.”

The crusader for better physical and mental health also called on married people not to drink alcohol on New Year’s night.

“Do not drink any alcohol on New Year’s because you will celebrate it with your family, and as head of the house, you will show a bad example to your family.”

“Your charisma with a negative accent will pass on to your family. Why would you drink? You don’t have fun in the family anymore? Show a good example,” he called on married people.

Onishchenko has previously called on Russians to only eat Russian food and said he would dismiss the State Duma if they do not pass the anti-smoking law.