On October 8, at the official opening of the 3d Russian International Congress “Cerebrovascular pathology and stroke” in Kazan, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that the congress of neurologists is an important event for the whole medical community.

The plenary session was held at Korston hotel with the participation of Russian Minister of Health Veronika Skvortsova, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, chief neurologist of Russian Ministry of Health Evgeny Gusev, and Tatarstan Minister of Health Adel Vafin.

Speaking at the plenary session, Rustam Minnikhanov said that development of medicine and implementation of programmes aimed at decreasing sickness and death rate are priority areas of social policy in Russia and Tatarstan. The main purpose of the congress is development of the most efficient strategy in such an important area as prevention of cerebral pathology and stroke.

“Due to active participation of Veronika Skvortsova and Evgeny Gusev the National Stroke Association and All-Russian Society of Neurologists are working hard in this area. Russian International Congress is an important event for the whole medical community. We appreciate that the idea to organize the congress was supported by leading Russian public and scientific organizations and higher educational institutions,” Tatarstan President said.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that the congress is held in Tatarstan because much attention is paid to development of health care industry in the republic. The programme “Modernization of health care industry” is being implemented.

According to Tatarstan President, material and technical base of the main regional clinics has considerably improved, and high-technology medical aid has become affordable, 150 new medical and obstetrical stations and laboratories have been built, 600 old medical and obstetrical stations have been repaired.

“The conducted work favoured improvement of the quality of medical services. Positive demographic dynamics is observed. For the last few years we have focused on promotion of healthy lifestyle and health culture,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

Evgeny Gusev, in his turn, helped Rustam Minnikhanov for supporting specialists.

Russian Minister of Health Veronika Skvortsova noted that for the last five years mortality from stroke has decreased by 40 per cent in the country and by 75 per cent in rural areas. 460 vascular centres have opened in the country for the last five years in Russia with the state funding of 29 billion roubles.

About 2, 000 delegates and guests from different Russian regions, CIS, Europe and North America are taking part in the congress.

Results of work of the National Stroke Association and organizing issues will be discussed at the event.