The expert discussion ‘Active Longevity and Public Health: A Factor in Demographic Development’, which was co-organized by the Roscongress Foundation’s Healthy Life project and the Women for a Healthy Society platform, was held in Kazan as part of the business programme of the Community Forum, which is being organized by the Russian Public Chamber.

“The federal projects ‘Older Generation’ and ‘Strengthening Public Health’ of the National Demographics Project aim to increase the life expectancy of the population, including healthy life expectancy. Health is our core value. We must concentrate our efforts on supporting the health and well-being of families and improving the demographic situation. According to VTsIOM polls, 98% of citizens support the national development goal of preserving the population, as well as people’s health and well-being,” said Sergey Rybalchenko, moderator of the session and Chair of the Commission for Demography and the Protection of the Family, Children, and Traditional Family Values of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Social initiatives and projects aimed at developing social policy both in the regions and at the federal level were announced during the meeting. 

Yelena Frolova, Director of the Office of Living Standards Statistics and Household Surveys of the Russian Federal Statistics Service, presented the Active Longevity Index that her service has developed. Active aging is a condition of social, economic, physical, and psychological well-being in older age, which provides older citizens with the opportunity to meet their needs and be actively involved in various parts of society.

‘Expert. Analytics Centre’ General Director Kristina Muravyova presented the ‘Rating of Regions 2021. Healthcare System Indicators’, which includes an overview of key figures and leaders of the rating, an overview of individual indicators, as well as the ‘Rating of Regions 2021: Healthcare’. The leader of the rating is the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. “The republic has a long life expectancy, rather low mortality and morbidity rate, as well as a high level of the basic provision of medical organizations. Two years ago, Alania ranked second, but now it is in first place because the negative impact of the pandemic affected the population to a lesser extent than in most regions,” the study says.

A video recording of the event was posted in the Healthy Life community.