Russia considers ban on organ donations by deceased orphansParentless children will not be able to serve as organ donors after their death, according to a bill on organ transplantation sponsored by the Healthcare Ministry.14:29 29.04.2013
Medvedev: Smoking ban to save up to 200,000 lives a yearPrime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the ban on smoking in public places will help lower Russians' nicotine dependence and save up to 200,000 lives a year.13:49 24.04.2013
Healthcare Ministry allows HIV-positive adults to adopt childrenRussia's Healthcare Ministry is prepared to allow individuals who are HIV or hepatitis positive to adopt children.11:32 23.04.2013
Russian toddler given HIV-infected blood due to negligenceAn incident in which a toddler was given an HIV-infected blood transfusion was the result of negligence on the part of a St. Petersburg hospital’s staff, prosecutors said when announcing the preliminary results of their investigation on Friday.14:20 19.04.2013
Latvian government to cut mala fide taxpayers out of free healthcare programThe Latvian government has approved the Healthcare Ministry's proposal to introduce a healthcare tax as part of the income tax.17:37 16.04.2013
State Duma adopts bill banning abortion adsThe State Duma has adopted a Healthcare Ministry sponsored bill in the first reading which bans the advertisement of pregnancy termination by medical services or traditional practices.11:56 10.04.2013
India rejects Novartis cancer-drug patentIn a judgment released Monday, the Supreme Court of India refused to extend patent protection for Novartis cancer drug Glivec. The court noted that it was stretched between the policy goals of protecting the pioneering of new medicine and promoting public health.13:37 01.04.2013
75% of Russians support higher age for buying booze – pollAbout three-quarters of Russians support raising the minimum legal age for buying alcohol to 21 from the current 18, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM).15:29 26.03.2013
Fines for smoking on Russian airlines may rise to $1,600Fines for smoking on board a plane may rise to 50,000 rubles ($1,625) according to a bill submitted to the State Duma by a group of lawmakers representing all parties.14:45 26.03.2013
New York City soda ban excoriated in biting opinionNew York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s battle against the city’s expanding waistline suffered a blow in the state’s supreme court Monday when Justice Milton A. Tingling tossed out a prohibition on the sale of large sugary drinks in an effort to quell the city’s growing obesity epidemic.14:14 12.03.2013
Healthcare Ministry to submit organ transplant bill in 2014Russia's Healthcare Ministry plans to draft an organ transplant bill by 2014 and submit it to the Government. A directive on this was added to the official government bank of regulations and directives on Tuesday.14:09 05.03.2013
Putin signs new anti-smoking billPresident Vladimir Putin has signed the law banning smoking in public places from June this year. "The federal law has been adopted to incorporate the provisions of the framework convention of the World Health Organization, which Russia ratified in 2008. It will regulate the protection of people from tobacco smoke and the hazardous effects of smoking," reads the Kremlin statement.11:00 25.02.2013
Students aged 10 and older to be tested annually for smokingStudents aged 10 and older will be tested annually for smoking, according to a new procedure approved by the Healthcare Ministry. New medical checkup requirements include full checkups at ages one, three, seven, 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17.15:36 18.02.2013
Government approves initiative on forced treatment of drug usersThe Government Commission on Legislation has approved a bill sponsored by the Federal Drug Control Service on the forced treatment of drug users upon a court order.14:33 13.02.2013
Russian parliament adopts anti-smoking law by a landslideThe State Duma adopted the anti-smoking law in the third and final reading on Tuesday. It bans smoking at state organizations, universities and schools, hospitals, stadiums, restaurants, trains and by metro stations from June 1, 2013. Only offices and industrial enterprises will be allowed to retain their segregated smoking areas.11:03 13.02.2013
Parliament plans to ban sale of chewing tobacco in RussiaAn amendment prohibiting the sale of snus and naswar will be proposed during the second hearing of the smoke-free law in the State Duma on Friday, said Dmitry Noskov, chairman of the State Duma Committee for Physical Fitness, Sports and Youth Affairs.10:24 25.01.2013
New law on blood donors enters into force in RussiaA new Russian law on the donation of blood, which includes a provision banning the sale of blood, will enter into force on January 21. It was adopted by the State Duma in July 2012 and approved by the Federation Council on July 18, 2012.12:08 21.01.2013
Russian prisons ordered to provide external medical careThe Russian government has required the Federal Penitentiary Service to provide prisoners and detainees with medical services external to detention facilities in cases where detention centers are unable to provide such services.14:15 10.01.2013
Duma proposes banning sale of energy drinks and alcoholic cocktailsThe State Duma Committee is drafting amendments to the regulations on food products banning the sale of energy drinks and canned alcoholic cocktails.11:33 18.12.2012