MOSCOW, June 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's leading pediatrician launched a high critical attack on the Ministry of Health and Social Development Monday and proposed that it be divided into health and labor ministries.
Leonid Roshal, who is also a member of the Public Chamber - a body set up to facilitate a dialogue between the authorities and society - said health care had deteriorated after the two departments merged in 2004.
"The ministry must be divided given that labor, the social sector and health care are in a woeful state, whereas the ministry keeps pretending that whatever happens there is nothing wrong and calls anyone that wants to touch it an enemy," Roshal said.
In his state of the nation address April 10, President Vladimir Putin urged the implementation of a national project on health care - one of four - to improve the health-care system.
In an attempt to reverse high death rates and the terrible demographic situation in the country, the project focuses on developing primary medical care and providing the sector with skilled and well-paid staff, as well as modern equipment.
The other three national projects focus on affordable housing, agriculture and education.
