Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Health Minister Slams Pursuing a Career Before Childbirth as 'Improper Practice' for Women

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko kremlin.ru

Russia's health minister has criticized the trend of women prioritizing their education and careers over having children, labeling it an “improper practice.”

Addressing a plenary session of the State Duma on Tuesday, Mikhail Murashko lamented the prevalent mindset in society that a woman should first pursue education, build a career, and secure her financial status before considering starting a family.

“Many problems arise as a result: infertility, miscarriage, IVF. Reduced time for the birth of the third or fourth child,” Murashko said. “The situation should be reviewed.”

Murashko announced a Health Ministry initiative to control the circulation of abortion-inducing drugs in pharmacies. He noted that although the number of abortions has already decreased significantly, it could be reduced even further. The focus is on medication-induced abortions, not on contraceptives.

He said that abortion-inducing drugs should be strictly controlled in medical and pharmaceutical organizations, similar to controls on psychotropic medications, potent drugs and toxic substances.

The Health Ministry will insist on the adoption of this initiative by the end of the year, Murashko said.

Medication-induced abortion is considered the safest method of terminating a pregnancy. It is performed using a group of drugs called antigestagens, which are administered only under medical supervision in healthcare facilities.

According to the Health Ministry, the number of abortions decreased by 3.9% (16,213 cases) from 2021 to 2022, from 411,000 in 2021 to 395,000 in 2022.

Russian officials have sought to encourage Russians to have more children and stepped up their rhetoric against abortion in recent months, as the country seeks to halt a demographic crisis exacerbated by the mass exodus of citizens abroad and the war in Ukraine.

Despite several measures aimed at incentivizing childbirth, the country's birth rate remains below its death rate.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more