News

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia holds a personal reception on the problems with medication provision to seriously ill citizens

Mr. Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, held a video-conference with the citizens. It was also attended by Mr. E.V. Kaburneev, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee, Mr. S.N. Goryainov, Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Heads of units of the Main Investigative Directorates, and heads and Officers of the territorial investigation units, who investigate the cases monitored by the Head of the Body.

At the reception, Mr. A.I. Bastrykin heard the complaints from the Republic of Bashkortostan, Chelyabinskaya oblast and Krasnodarskiy krai. All of them are either parents of children with serious illnesses, seriously ill patients themselves or the ones who do not receive complete supply of medicines prescribed by law.

Thus, one applicant's infant son from the Republic of Bashkortostan suffers from an orphan disease. Due to this extremely serious condition, the child needs specialized medical nutrition, medicines and medical equipment, but he is not provided with them in full. The necessary medical products and medical nutrition are purchased by the Applicant at her own expense or with the help of charitable organizations, since the Officials of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bashkortostan violate the rights of a disabled child. The child was not provided with therapeutic nutrition from January 2021 to July 2022, medical products and equipment are issued with a delay and not in full amount. A number of applicants from the Republic of Bashkortostan reported that they suffer from a rare disease and were forced to appeal to court, however, despite the issued court decisions, the Officials of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bashkortostan refuse to give them the necessary medicines. Mr. E.V. Lagatsky, Acting Head of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Bashkortostan, reported on the progress of the investigation of the criminal case launched in accordance with Part 1, Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (negligence), and he also described the situation with the provision of medicines in the mentioned region. Mr. A.I. Bastrykin, in his turn, criticized his subordinates for the untimely launching a criminal case and for the failure in taking the measures to protect the rights of the Applicants. Procedural Inspections are scheduled for a number of Officers of the territorial division. Documentation related to the investigation will be submitted to the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia.

A similar situation occurred in the Chelyabinskaya oblast lately. An initiative group of applicants told the Head of the Investigative Committee of Russia that their children suffer from type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent) and they are subject to preferential provision with medicines and medical consumables. At the same time, the Officials of the Ministry of Health of Chelyabinskaya oblast systematically violate the rights of disabled children. The applicants reported that the Investigating Authorities of the Russian Investigative Committee for Chelyabinskaya oblast had not taken measures to protect the rights of their children. Mr. A.I. Bastrykin listened to the report of Mr. K.V. Miroshnichenko, acting Head of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Chelyabinskaya oblast. The Head of the Investigative Committee of Russia once again criticized the actions of his subordinates, who untimely launched criminal cases in accordance with Part 2, Article 315 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (non-compliance with the court order) and Part 1, Article 293 of the Criminal Code (negligence) and allowed bureaucratic dysfunction. Internal inspections were appointed against a number of Officers of the territorial unit, and all materials were instructed to be transferred to the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for further investigation.

The applicants' children from Krasnodarskiy krai also suffer from an orphan disease. They were prescribed a certain medicine by the medical commission, however, according to the mothers, despite the court decision and because the particular prescribed medicine was not available, the Officials of the regional Ministry of Health provided them with analogues that were not suitable for their children. The Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee listened to the report of Mr. A.K. Maslov, Head of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Krasnodarskiy krai, who reported on the progress of the investigation of the criminal case in accordance with Part 1, Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (negligence) and Part 1, Article 285 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (abuse of official powers) in relation to Ms. L.G. Kazayeva, Deputy Regional Minister of Health. Mr. A.I. Bastrykin instructed to prepare a detailed report, including a report on planned measures to protect the rights of persons who are not provided with medicines in a timely manner.

At the end of the personal reception, Mr. A.I. Bastrykin noted that the situation with the provision of medicines to seriously ill people is very acute not only for the participantregions but for many other regions of our country too. He gave a number of specific instructions on the criminal cases mentioned above, including the specific instructions for the Forensic Expert Center of the Russian Investigative Committee.