On May 2, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Sverdlovsk Region Tatiana Merzlyakova met the Minister of Health of the region Igor Trofimov.

During the meeting, the parties discussed pressing issues in the field of medical assistance provision. In particular, Tatiana Merzlyakova outlined the problems of patients who don’t have documents and those who need active assistance of social protection agencies.

Furthermore, the regional ombudsman addressed the issue of accompaniment of patients outside the Sverdlovsk Region. According to Tatiana Merzlyakova, patients suffering from mental disorder need being accompanied by a health worker while returning to the place of their residence and treatment.

In conclusion, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Sverdlovsk Region expressed her concern about territorial inaccessibility of treatment facilities in many districts of the region and about the decreasing number of medical professionals in several hospitals.

Adapted from the Press Service of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Sverdlovsk Region