The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development
The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development is the highest administrative level,
headed by a minister appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament. It is
the central policy formulating body for the Russian Federation and retains nominal rights
to oversee the work and decisions devolved to the regions. Its main official
responsibilities include:
− developing and implementing state policy in healthcare;
− developing and implementing federal health programmes, including initiatives on
diabetes, tuberculosis, health promotion, health education, disease prevention etc;
− developing draft legislation and presenting it to the State Duma;
− governance of federal medical facilities;
− medical education and manpower development;
− epidemiological and environmental health monitoring and health statistics;
− control of infectious diseases;
− development of health regulations;
− development of federal standards and recommendations for quality assurance;
− development and implementation of federal health programmes (TB, AIDS,
health promotion, etc.);
− control and licensing of drugs.