The health services in Russia

The public health services in Russia embrace the entire population and are financed substantially by the state budget. The private medical services are steadily expanding and constitute a certain part in medicine of Russia that is gradually growing. According to the Constitution of Russia each citizen of our country has a right to be treated free of charge.

Unfortunately, because of the economic problems in Russia the government can’t afford to set a priority for medicine in the state budget. The network of clinics, dispensaries, hospitals, maternity hospitals and children’s dispensaries are not funded enough to bring the equipment up to date and develop medical knowledge.

But in spite of this there are a lot of talented and highly educated doctors who can be regarded as great humanists, who are devoted to their noble work and to their people. You will find local medical centres in each neighbourhood and sometimes at big factories and farms as well. There are, of course, private practitioners who charge for visits.

Main emphasis in Russia is laid on prevention or prophylactics. The saying has it that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Regular medical examinations are practiced especially among children and youth since a thorough examination helps “to nip a disease in the bud” (before it has taken root).

A general examination is also required of persons planning to work with people, in food industry and in many other fields.

The all over effort against epidemics deserves special mention. Such diseases as plague, cholera, smallpox, malaria and many others have been stamped out. There are a lot of problems in Russia, but nevertheless medicine is advancing further and is successfully combating cancer, the disease that takes a heavy toll of human lives.

Much has been done to wipe out such a ruthless man-killer as polio. Doctors no longer rely on guesswork and trust in luck. They have artificial lungs and hearts and electronic diagnosis devices at their disposal.

VOCABULARY

public health - здравоохранение

to embrace - охватывать; включать, заключать

substantially - существенно, в значительной степени; главным образом; большей частью

steadily - неуклонно; постоянно

to expand - развивать(ся); расширять(ся)

to constitute - составлять

to afford - позволять себе; иметь возможность

to set a priority (for) - установить приоритет

dispensary - бесплатный диспансер; благотворительный медицинский пункт; аптека

maternity hospital - родильный дом

to fund - финансировать

to bring up to date - модернизировать

to regard (as) - расценивать, рассматривать; считать

to charge - записывать в долг; записывать на чей-л. Счет

prevention - предотвращение, предупреждение, профилактика

medical examination - медицинский осмотр

to nip in the bud - пресечь в корне, подавить в зародыше

to require - нуждаться; требовать

plague - чума

cholera - холера

smallpox - оспа

to stamp out - подавлять, уничтожать

to take a toll - приносить потери

to wipe out - уничтожить; истреблять, ликвидировать

ruthless - безжалостный, беспощадный

polio - полиомиелит, детский паралич

to rely on - полагаться на

artificial - искусственный, ненатуральный

at one’s disposal - в чьем-л. распоряжении

Questions

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16