This was reported by assistant of public health and social development minister Vladimir Starodubov.

He especially pointed out the cost of services connected with childbirth - depending on medicine department it can be from 500 to 2 thousand dollars where 40% are the money of Russian people.

"We are trying to find ways so money will follow the woman as she comes to obsterics institutions", - says Starodubov.

He also reported that in 2006 maternity benefit will be increased to 8 thousands rubles - one time benefit and 700 rubles - monthly. At present the amount of benefit is equal to 6 thousands and 500 rubles, correspondingly.

As Starodubov underlined this increase demands the rise of expenses of budget on 7 milliards rubles.

By words of minister assistant nowadays the population of Russia at the age of 18 comes to 30 millions people, and during the last 12 years the population decreased on 11 millions people.

At the end of 1980 2.5 millions of children were born annually, then there was a decrease of birth rate, but now is noticed a new tendency of birth rate increase.

The priority in conception of children health protection which is considered by government Starodubov named the ensuring of mothers? health. "Nowadays more than 90% of women have problems with health, complicated delivery is noticed in almost 70% of cases and a big amount of newborns needs intensive therapy and reanimation",- stated minister assistant.

In 1985 every year 50 thousand of infants died on the territory of Russian Federation. Now this number has decreased but still more than 17 thousands of newborns dies 11 thousand from which are at the age less than 1 month.

Among children of school age 30% of boys are recognized unsuitable for service in army. Starodubov has noticed that there are a deficit of district pediatrists, their bad equipment, and their declining age.

One of the important elements to resolve this problem is the increase of wages. To equip polyclinics 30 milliards of rubles were given. "Even in Soviet times we never got such amount of money, we will have opportunity to buy all necessary equipment for children polyclinics and antenatal clinics", - said Starodubov.

One of the main purpose as Starodubov thinks is to decrease the rate of infant mortality to 10-6 on thousand of newborns, and also to increase the amount of healthy children borned from HIV-infected.
sections: Economics