Moscow, Nov 10 — DAN. Russia’s new regions have been steadily meeting the needs for medical equipment, medications and supplies over the past year, and used the assistance of medical teams from all over the country, chairman of the parliament committee on health protection Badma Bashankayev told the Donetsk New Agency.  

As of the time of reunification with Russia, the new territories lagged behind the rest of the country in terms of the population’s access to medical services and availability of medical equipment. The rundown regional healthcare system had been plagued by embezzlement and shortages of specialists. 

“We’re gradually meeting the needs, ” Bashankayev said. “A computerized tomography scanner was recently delivered to the Donetsk cancer center. We, the volunteers, deliver a lot of equipment; the Healthcare Ministry has recently purchased some 390 vehicles and 50 mobile medical units.”

Allocations for medications and medical supplies for the new regions reached 7.5 billion rubles over the past year. Fifty specialized vehicles for medical examination of children were purchased, he said.

“We often send medical teams for two-week work shifts. The four new regions need more help, and they’re getting this help, ” the parliamentarian said.

Russian national research centers help medical personnel in the new territories meet Russian requirements and recommendations regarding medical practice. Although these regulations are tougher, they provide more opportunities both to the patient and the doctor, Bashankayev said.

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Badma Bashankayev was born to a surgeon’s family in Pyatigorsk in 1978. He graduated from the I.M.Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy and worked as emergency medicine surgeon.  In 2021, he won a seat in the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament as a “United Russia” member. He regularly visited Donbass after the beginning of the special military operation together with medical volunteers. In the Donetsk People’s Republic, he opened courses in tactical medicine for the military.

He is an active member of the Russian Society of Surgeons and the Russian Society of Endoscopic Surgeons and a member of the editorial boards of several science journals. Bashankayev authored more than 80 academic papers.*jk