Translated material
"Simple Solution"
Deputies advised Mikhail Zurabov to go on vacation
The scandal with the arrest of the leadership of the Federal Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (FFOMS) yesterday received the expected political continuation. State Duma deputies from United Russia achieved a postponement to the spring session of the government hour, at which the head of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Mikhail Zurabov, was supposed to make a report on November 22. In addition, the deputies expressed the opinion that Mr. Zurabov could go on vacation during the investigation.The minister himself suggested that in this way they were trying to force him to resign. “This solution seems to me the simplest,” Mr. Zurabov said in a television interview. — For now, we are very limited in our understanding of how events will develop (in connection with the investigation of the criminal case. — Ed. ). But, apparently, the issue is not about additional drug provision (ADS).”
As for the progress of the investigation itself against the leadership of the FFOMS, yesterday there were no special events. At least, the Prosecutor General's Office did not report any new arrests or charges against the arrested officials. Apparently, all seven FFOMS executives detained at the end of last week - general director Andrei Taranov, his three deputies Natalya Klimova, Dmitry Shilyaev and Dmitry Usenko, chief accountant Galina Bykova, heads of the control, audit and financial departments Tatyana Markova and Nina Frolova - still remained formally only suspects.
Most likely, the investigators were just figuring out which of them could be charged with what. In the criminal case itself, as is known, three articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation appear - taking bribes, giving bribes and misuse of budget funds. According to investigators, FFOMS officials received bribes from the heads of regional divisions of the fund and pharmaceutical companies for the right to participate in the supply of additional medicines to benefit categories of citizens under the state program, while the medicines themselves were supplied at inflated prices. Yesterday, the Prosecutor General's Office only confirmed that a powerful investigative team had been created to investigate this case, and requests were sent to regional prosecutors' offices with instructions to provide information about all previously initiated criminal cases related to pharmaceuticals, even those that were dropped.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zurabov, who has not yet commented on the events that unfolded around the DLO program , yesterday for the first time stated his point of view.
The head of the Ministry of Health and Social Development said that the state DLO program itself has fully justified itself, since the amount of drugs that was distributed to beneficiaries last year and this year is many times greater than the supply of previous years. To support his words, Mr. Zurabov gave an example that in a number of regions “there has been a decrease in mortality in this category ( low-income citizens - Ed .) to 18-20%.” According to Mr. Zurabov, people with multiple sclerosis, hemophilia, oncohematology, and a number of other serious and extremely expensive diseases to treat began to receive the drugs in full. “They will have all the medicines that are necessary, in full,” the minister said. - And the problems that have now arisen in the FFOMS will in no way affect the position of these categories of citizens. Everything planned for next year will be completed on time and in full,” Mr. Zurabov emphasized.
As for the arrests of the leaders of the FFOMS themselves, Mr. Zurabov said that about two months ago, personnel changes were planned at the fund. “And the law enforcement agencies have no complaints against those colleagues who are currently dealing with DLO issues,” the minister said. “They work in a calm mode.” The minister also promised to provide full support to the investigation and strengthen control over all areas in the field of healthcare and the pharmaceutical market. “As for the guilt of the detainees, this issue will be decided by the court,” Mr. Zurabov said.
In turn, the head of the Accounts Chamber Sergei Stepashin said yesterday that the audit of all companies related to pharmaceuticals will continue. His department is now engaged in inspections of medical equipment suppliers.