Corruption Pervades Russia's Health System
When Karen Papiyants lost his leg in a road accident last year, his medical nightmare was only beginning.
Although like any Russian he was entitled to free treatment, he says the doctors strongly suggested he pay $4,500 into their St. Petersburg hospital's bank account or be deprived proper care — and perhaps not even survive.
Faced with that choice, the 37-year-old truck driver's relatives scrambled to scrape together the money. But Papiyants said that didn't stop the nursing staff from leaving him unattended for most of the night and giving him painkillers only after he screamed in agony.
"It's nothing but blackmail and extortion on the part of doctors," Papiyants said.
In theory Russians are supposed to receive free basic medical care. But patients and experts say doctors, nurses and surgeons routinely demand payments; even bribes; from those they treat. And critics say the practice persists despite Russia's booming economy and its decision to spend billions to improve the health care system.
Medical care in Russia is among the worst in the industrialized world. A 2000 World Health Organization report ranked Russia's health system 130th out of 191 countries, on a par with nations such as Peru and Honduras.
This is one of the few nations in the world where life expectancy has declined sharply in the past 15 years. The average Russian can expect to live only to age 66; at least a decade less than in most Western democracies, according to a 2005 World Bank report. For men, the figure is closer to 59; meaning many Russian men don't live long enough to start collecting their pension at age 60.
Compounded by alcoholism, heart disease claims proportionately more lives than in most of the rest of the world. Death rates from homicide, suicide, auto accidents and cancer are also especially high.
Russia's population has dropped precipitously in the past 15 years, to below 143 million in what President Vladimir Putin calls "the most acute problem of contemporary Russia."
In 2004, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Russia spent $441 per capita on health care, about a fifth of what the Europeans spend. Over the past two years the government has more than doubled health care spending to some $7 billion, but that still works out to only about 3.4 percent of all government spending, and the World Health Organization recommends at least 5 percent.
Experts here say new spending does little if it fails to tackle corruption.
The state covers all Russians under a standardized medical insurance package, while well-heeled citizens can buy extra insurance and be treated privately.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Although like any Russian he was entitled to free treatment, he says the doctors strongly suggested he pay $4,500 into their St. Petersburg hospital's bank account or be deprived proper care — and perhaps not even survive.
Faced with that choice, the 37-year-old truck driver's relatives scrambled to scrape together the money. But Papiyants said that didn't stop the nursing staff from leaving him unattended for most of the night and giving him painkillers only after he screamed in agony.
"It's nothing but blackmail and extortion on the part of doctors," Papiyants said.
In theory Russians are supposed to receive free basic medical care. But patients and experts say doctors, nurses and surgeons routinely demand payments; even bribes; from those they treat. And critics say the practice persists despite Russia's booming economy and its decision to spend billions to improve the health care system.
Medical care in Russia is among the worst in the industrialized world. A 2000 World Health Organization report ranked Russia's health system 130th out of 191 countries, on a par with nations such as Peru and Honduras.
This is one of the few nations in the world where life expectancy has declined sharply in the past 15 years. The average Russian can expect to live only to age 66; at least a decade less than in most Western democracies, according to a 2005 World Bank report. For men, the figure is closer to 59; meaning many Russian men don't live long enough to start collecting their pension at age 60.
Compounded by alcoholism, heart disease claims proportionately more lives than in most of the rest of the world. Death rates from homicide, suicide, auto accidents and cancer are also especially high.
Russia's population has dropped precipitously in the past 15 years, to below 143 million in what President Vladimir Putin calls "the most acute problem of contemporary Russia."
In 2004, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Russia spent $441 per capita on health care, about a fifth of what the Europeans spend. Over the past two years the government has more than doubled health care spending to some $7 billion, but that still works out to only about 3.4 percent of all government spending, and the World Health Organization recommends at least 5 percent.
Experts here say new spending does little if it fails to tackle corruption.
The state covers all Russians under a standardized medical insurance package, while well-heeled citizens can buy extra insurance and be treated privately.
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- Do you ever wonder why there are more women Doctors in Russia? It's because the Medical Profession is not held in high regard and women are relegated to lower class professions. (This comes from a Russian friend of mine)
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