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Russia tackles mortality 'crisis' Russia funds health crisis plan
(about 7 hours later)
The Russian government is discussing how to tackle the problem of falling life expectancy, especially among men. Russia has set aside almost $3bn (£1.53bn) for an emergency programme to tackle its epidemic of ill-health and a falling life expectancy.
Ministers are expected to approve a five-fold increase in funding for treatment of diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes and Aids. The programme aims to reduce mortality rates by targeting diabetes, TB, HIV/Aids and cancer.
The health ministry says average life expectancy for Russian men is less than 60 years - about 15 years lower than in most other industrialised countries.The health ministry says average life expectancy for Russian men is less than 60 years - about 15 years lower than in most other industrialised countries.
Life expectancy for Russian women is about 72.Life expectancy for Russian women is about 72.
Diseases, murders, suicides and intravenous drug abuse - the rates of which in Russia are also among the highest in the world - have contributed to what many experts consider to be a health catastrophe, the BBC's Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke says. Politically sensitive
Life expectancy for a Russian man is 15 to 20 years lower than in Japan, the United States or the richest European countries. The BBC's Steven Eke in Moscow says this represents a new Five Year Plan - not aimed at boosting the production of tractors but at tackling the causes behind one of the world's worst health crises.
While a Russian woman lives, on average, seven to 13 years longer than a Russian man, her life expectancy is also poor by international comparison. Many diseases have spread rapidly since the Soviet Union's collapse.
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said: "We aim to tackle the problem seriously - and that includes providing adequate funding for the fight against TB, diabetes, cancers, HIV and viral hepatitis."
Our correspondent says Russian and international medical authorities have previously accused the government of chronic inaction - even of being in denial about the extent of the country's health crisis.
He says some have already pointed out that the extra spending announced for healthcare today is one 60th of the amount earmarked for the same period for an overhaul of the Russian armed forces.
The demographic crisis is an extremely sensitive matter politically.The demographic crisis is an extremely sensitive matter politically.
Leading medical specialists accuse the authorities of chronic inaction, even of being in denial about the extent of the crisis, our analyst says. The population fell by more than 560,000 last year to 142.2m, a new low for the post-Soviet era.
They point out that much of Russia's health crisis is the result of unhealthy life-styles, especially very high rates of smoking and alcohol abuse. Experts point out that much of Russia's health crisis is the result of unhealthy lifestyles, especially very high rates of smoking and alcohol abuse.
Yet there is still no concerted effort to persuade, or force, people to adopt healthier ways, our analyst adds. There are also environmental issues - last year, a survey by a US research centre said that half of the world's most polluted places were in the former Soviet Union.
There are also environmental issues - last year, a survey by an American research centre said that half of the world's most polluted places were in the former Soviet Union.