The approach to healthcare in the Far East and the specifics of implementing the national projects in the region were discussed at the panel sessions on the sidelines of the 5th anniversary Eastern Economic Forum. Participants of the ‘Pathways to a Healthy Life in the Far East’ session were Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Veronika Skvortsova, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation Maxim Topilin, Rector of the Pacific State Medical University Valentin Shumatov, and many others.

The region is currently characterized by a low birth rate and life expectancy, as well as high mortality and outward migration. The federal project ‘Strengthening Public Health’ was launched to change the situation. It focuses on preventative medicine and remote medical care, and public health programmes tailored to the region. During the session, Director of Lopatkin Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology, a branch of the National Medical Research Centre for Radiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Oleg Apolikhin proposed to compliment the project with the pilot program ‘Male Reproductive Health and Active Social Longevity’.

According to the expert, life expectancy of women in Russia increases that of men by over ten years. Of the total number of deaths at an active working age, 80% were men. There are many risk factors, but scientists have identified an explicit connection between the general health status of men, which leads to premature mortality, and their reproductive health.

The proposed pilot programme is aimed at preventative measures. The emphasis is shifting to the so-called ‘health meters’ – highly reliable and low-cost measurement of biomarker molecules.

This approach is expected to yield a growing number of healthy citizens, lowering the number of disease incidences and the solution for two main strategic tasks: reducing preventable losses in public health and reducing the share of low-efficiency medical practice.

The programme stipulates for mobile medical units, which are to cover up to 80% of small towns. Corporate healthcare programmes are yet another way for preventative check-ups.

The topic of increasing the life expectancy of Russian citizens, including the Far East, was previously discussed at the ‘Healthy Life Forum: Towards 80+’. On 12 February 2020, for the second time, the Roscongress Foundation is to organize and hold the Forum with the slogan ‘Sustainable Development Goals 2020’. The event will be held on the first day of the Russian Investment Forum on 12 February at the Main Media Centre in Sochi. ‘Healthy Life Forum’ is an established discussion platform. It is to find and develop practical proposals to implement national projects that aim to solve the problem of increasing the healthy life expectancy of Russian citizens. Last year, over 3,000 people participated in the event.