In contrast, some major cities, such as Moscow, enjoy the new phenomenon of private medical care. Most of these are operated by Western companies, staffed with Western personnel, and outfitted with Western equipment. Recently, a number of private insurance companies have started operating in Russia, mostly as joint ventures with Western enterprises. Western oil and gas companies, working in remote corners of the country, have developed plans for emergency treatment and evacuation of expatriate employees. These new choices and possibilities have little impact on the majority of Russians.
Most citizens feel that their health care system is constantly deteriorating.
What used to be a pride of the Soviet system is now viewed as one of the shames of the post-Soviet era. Still, the solid infrastructure of health care in Russia remains intact, especially in emergency and primary care, providing hope for the future. Future needs include the allocation of resources to modernize medical facilities and improved training of medical professionals. With these improvements, the Russian emergency medical system could become among the most advanced in the world. Medicine is a constantly changing science and not all therapies are clearly established.