On 21-23 November 2012, the city of Khanty-Mansiysk hosted the All-Russian Patient Forum ‘Towards a Healthy Country’, which was organized by the All-Russian Patients Union with the support of the Plenipotentiary President’s Representative in the Ural Federal District and the government of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area – Yugra.

Representatives of voluntary organizations which advocate the rights and interests of patients with rare diseases requiring costly treatment took part in the event.

The Forum program was rich and included a range of events of multiple purposes which would complement one another such as the Conference ‘Towards a Healthy Country’, trainings for patient NGOs, a series of working sessions, an exhibition of innovative medical technologies.

During the event, the Forum attendees had a chance to address topical questions to the ARPU leaders at the Q&A session. President of the All-Russian MS Society Yan Vlasov and President of the All-Russian Charity Public Organization ‘All-Russian Hemophilia Society’ Yuri Zhulev, who co-chair the ARPU, took and answered the questions in great detail.

As the Forum culmination, on the third day the participants attended the Conference ‘Towards a Healthy Country’. The main speakers at the conference were Plenipotentiary President’s Representative in the Ural Federal District Mr Igor Kholmanskikh, Governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area Mrs Natalia Komarova, Russian Health Minister Aid Mrs Irina Andreyeva, Deputy Head of the Federal Service on Surveillance in Healthcare and Social Development Mrs Irina Seregina, patient organizations.

The Forum resulted in protocols, resolutions, agreements to develop joint projects and wide networking.

The attendees were unanimous to believe that the All-Russian Patients Union has stepped far ahead to unite patients in Russian regions and structure one of the biggest movements in Russia – the patient movement, in which they do all to advocate their rights and are there for constructive collaboration with all parties that endeavor to ensure the best standards of the national healthcare policy.