Russian hospitals are being hit by the economic crisis as the weak ruble pushes up the cost of medical equipment, the TASS news agency reported.
?€?Today?€™s Russian medicine is 80 percent dependent on imports,?€? said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, at a session aimed to discuss the new opportunities for the Russian healthcare industry.
?€?[Before the crisis], we used to have enough money allocated to purchase all the necessary equipment, but the exchange rate was different. Now, everything became twice as expensive,?€? Rogozin said, TASS reported.
Western currencies have risen significantly against the ruble amid falling oil prices and anti-Russia sanctions. In March 2016, the ruble had devalued more than 50 percent against the dollar since July 2014.
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.
Remind me later.