Putin endorses changes to the palliative care system
The Russian President endorses a proposal to make changes to the palliative care system
10.12.2025
Article published on the ASI website
At a meeting of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights (HRC) held on 9 December, a proposal was discussed to amend the criteria for the provision of palliative care. This was put forward by Olga Demicheva, an HRC member, and President of the Doctor Liza Fair Help Charity. One option is to broaden the definition of “palliative status” to include pre- and in hospice care.
During her presentation, Demicheva said “I ask you, Vladimir Vladimovich, to instruct the Ministry of Health to draft proposals amending the legislation on the protection of citizens’ health in order to improve access to palliative care for patients with serious and life-threatening diseases that are not incurable”.
As a result, Vladimir Putin ordered his officials to draw up specific proposals, praising palliative as the most compassionate form of care. “The aim is not just to sustain life but to ensure a quality of life for those with serious and terminal illnesses which is the most important thing”, he said.
Demicheva added that construction of a new building for the Doctor Liza Fair Help charity was nearing completion which will provide care for seriously ill children.
Putin added that he has always advocated extending the rights and opportunities for CSOs, as well as transferring certain powers to them with State funding.
“Non-profit organisations often perform certain tasks better, more purposefully and with greater effect than Government agencies”, said Putin. However, he added that it was important for them to avoid “being ambushed” in their work, stressing that CSOs must comply with certain assurances in order to provide social services.
The President did not give a definitive answer to the question of whether a list of social services needed Government approval. He said that sources of State funding must be taken into account, and that it was impossible to establish a list of services provided and paid for by regional budgets at federal level.
