The State Duma is considering making postpartum rehabilitation for women part of compulsory medical insurance, a development reported by RIA News. The proposal aims to ensure that new mothers receive medical support as part of standard health coverage, reducing out-of-pocket costs and expanding access to essential recovery services after childbirth.
The initiative comes from Yana Lantratova, the first deputy chair of the education committee. She sent a formal note to the Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko, outlining the rationale and requesting consideration for integration into the national insurance framework. Lantratova emphasized that postpartum care is a critical component of family health, one that can influence long-term well-being for both mother and child.
Recent demographic data show shifting attitudes toward childbearing among Russians. In 2022, about 71.6 percent of people expressed a desire to have one or two children, up from 65.3 percent in 2017. The share of women preferring to have only one child rose from 2017 to 2022, reaching 23 percent, up from six percent. These trends highlight the ongoing dynamics of family planning in the country and the potential impact of better maternal health support on birth rates.
Lantratova noted that private clinics already offer a broad spectrum of postpartum recovery programs. However, some of these programs can carry price tags reaching up to 150 thousand rubles, which puts them out of reach for many families. Making postpartum rehabilitation part of state medical insurance could help level access and reduce disparities in postnatal care availability.
In a broader context, President Vladimir Putin has discussed Russia’s birth rate in the face of rising wealth and changing values. He has suggested that as household wealth and income grow, some families shift priorities toward education and additional knowledge, which can influence decisions about having more children. This observation underscores the complexity of demographic trends and the importance of accessible maternal health services in supporting family choices. The topic has been a recurring element in public discourse, with policymakers weighing how to balance economic development and population growth.
Official statistics from Rosstat have also highlighted efforts to address natural population decline in the Russian Federation. These data points contribute to the ongoing conversation about maternal health, family policy, and the role of healthcare coverage in supporting population stability.