In particular, privileges concerning provision with medicine, resort treatment, commuter travel and long-distance train travel to places of treatment will be preserved, said the minister.
Besides, the government will monthly make additional monetary payments to pensions of all categories of citizens, who are entitled to have privileges in line with the federal legislation, he noted.
In his words, throughout 2005, citizens will be able to give up part or all privileges in exchange for additional payments.
Monthly welfare payments to those who give up privileges will increase by 450 rubles ($1 costs 29 rubles) in 2006, Mr. Zurabov said. He emphasized that "the government does not intend to deprive anyone of benefits."
Next year, the government will allocate 53 billion rubles on provision with medicine of privileged citizens' categories, which totals 40% of the whole turnover of the drugstore network, added the minister.
Over 10 billion rubles will be allocated for resort treatment, which will make it possible to buy over 1 million tickets for privileged categories of citizens to go to sanatoriums, Mr. Zurabov said. Now, by his data, only 200,000-220,000 such tickets are bought annually.
