According to forecasts, only 50% of Russian 16-year-old young people will live to 60

According to medical forecasts, only 50 per cent of Russian 16-year-old youths will live to 60, President of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences /RAMN/, Academician Valentin Pokrovsky stated at a scientific and practical conference "Medical social priorities in protecting Russian population's heath for 2004-2010." The death rate of Russian men capable of working has boosted by 80 per cent in the last decade, Pokrovsky pointed out.

The increased death rate is mainly caused by alcoholism, traumatism, violation of labour protection, environment and poor health care, according to Academician Pokrovsky. Besides, the death rate of alcoholics strictly depends on the dynamics of alcohol production growth.

According to Pokrovsky, health care is wholly dependent on the country's economic and political development.

The academician is convinced that health care must be better financed, while Russians do not have an opportunity to take care of their health.

One of the key reasons for it is extremely expensive medical aid, Pokrovsky said. According to him, over 35 per cent having hepatitis C cannot afford expensive medications, over 50 per cent give up their treatment half-way, "as it hit them too much in the pocket." Moreover, over 109 million people in Russia are currently living in the territories suffering environmental calamities, he said.