ARCHANGELSK DOCTOR'S ATTEMPT TO HEAL HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS

UNCLAS ST PETERSBURG 000070


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: RS PGOV SOCI
SUBJECT: ARCHANGELSK DOCTOR'S ATTEMPT TO HEAL HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS


1. (SBU) Around 300 people assembled in the central square of
Archangelsk on May 29 to protest inadequate funding and
equipment shortages in local hospitals and the lack of
transparency in budget spending. The organizers of the protest
were primarily surgeons from various regional hospitals.
Archangelsk Mayor Viktor Pavlenko and Chairman of the Region's
Health Committee Andrey Krasilikov attended the rally and
declared that the situation would be resolved shortly. Their
assurances failed to assure the protestors, however, who
insisted on a meeting between the doctors and local authorities
on June 19 to discuss any progress made in fulfilling the
protestors' demands.


2. (SBU) These protests stem from doctors' claims that the
situation in many hospitals is becoming desperate due to a lack
of equipment which has left them unable to provide emergency
care for their patients. Hospitals have been understaffed for
years and employees frequently quit because of low salaries,
leaving the remaining doctors to work even longer hours.
Doctors say that their problems are caused by a budgetary policy
which lacks transparency and the general indifference of local
officials to the healthcare industry's troubles.


3. (SBU) Local authorities initially refused to allow the
protest but eventually relented. Pavlenko's and Krasilikov's
participation was interpreted by leaders of the protest as an
effort by the government to remain in control of the situation,
or at least appear to be in control. As evidence of the
government's overall consternation with the situation, the
organizers cited a television program about Archangelsk's
healthcare system that was scheduled to be shown on one of the
federal networks but was later cancelled. Some participants in
the protest have since claimed that they have been threatened
with termination if they continue with their protests. The
problems which initially sparked the protest have not been
resolved. While one of the protest leaders admits that limited
steps have been taken to resolve the underlying problems, he
also states the local authorities have reneged on their promises
to follow through on other measures. It is not clear whether
the promised meeting between protesting doctors and local
authorities will actually take place on June 19.

GWALTNEY