Death rate in Russia keeps decreasing – Health Minister

(Interfax – NOVO-OGARYOVO, July 30, 2013) The positive dynamic of decreasing death rate can be observed in Russia, Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said.

“The results of 2013 show that positive tendencies remain regardless of the flu epidemic we had in January-April,” Skvortsova said at a meeting of the State Council Presidium in Novo-Ogaryovo on Tuesday.

The total death rate in Russia went down 7% a month after the epidemic, in June, Skvortsova said. The death toll from vascular diseases fell over 9%, from respiratory disease – 11% and of tuberculosis – 13%.

“Infant mortality is decreasing consistently. It reached 8.3% as of January-June 2013, which is 3.5% lower then the 2012 result,” she said.

Skvortsova said she hoped that joint work with regions would allow moving forward in this direction and to strengthen nations’ health.