Russia plans to reduce funding for its main federal health programmes next year while sharply raising defence spending, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. Money for the Long and Active Life initiative, which bundles 11 programmes covering primary care, cancer and heart treatment, diabetes, emergency services and medical staffing, is due to fall from 181 billion roubles in 2026 to 146 billion roubles in 2027.
Over the same period, military spending is set to climb to about 17.1 trillion roubles, up 27 per cent on the revised 2026 allocation, according to budget documents reported by Reuters. RFE/RL spoke to residents of the Yaroslavl region who described long ambulance waits, poorly equipped village clinics and a lack of specialist doctors, problems they fear the cuts will make worse in poorer regions.
Source: RFE/RL