Russia should manufacture at least half the medical equipment it needs by 2020, up from 11% at present, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
He said the government was ready to help manufacturers through a special federal program to promote the development of the medical and pharmaceutical industry.
Forty billion rubles ($1.4 billion) will be earmarked for the production of modern medical equipment, he added.
He also directed the government to cut out unnecessary middlemen and fight corruption in state procurement programs.
“Wherever possible, direct links should be established with manufacturers… and all sorts of corruption-ridden collusion schemes eliminated,” Putin said.
MOSCOW, March 31 (RIA Novosti)