Federation Council speaker asks Finance Ministry to raise ambulance fleet funding
In short
Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko asked Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to consider increasing funding to renew Russia's ambulance vehicle fleet, speaking at parliamentary hearings on the draft federal budget for 2027–2029. She said the shortage of ambulances is an acute problem in all regions, that renewing the fleet would support domestic carmakers, and that poor vehicle condition drives up driver turnover. She said the issue needs additional consideration.
Read the full story 2 min read
Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko asked Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to consider increasing funding to renew the country's ambulance vehicle fleet, speaking at parliamentary hearings on the draft federal budget. “As for ambulance vehicles, this problem is acute for all regions. And I would ask you, Anton Germanovich, to take a careful look at the possibility of increasing funding for renewing the ambulance vehicle fleet,” Interfax quoted her as saying. Vedomosti reported that she spoke at hearings on the draft federal budget for 2027–2029. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Matviyenko gave two reasons for the request. According to Interfax and Vedomosti, she said renewing the fleet would support the domestic auto industry, and that the state of the vehicles affects staffing in the service. “Because when a car is battered and needs frequent repairs, of course there is no one who wants to work there,” she said, adding that citizens should in principle receive medical care of a decent standard, including through ambulance services. In her view, the topic requires additional consideration. [ 1 , 3 ]
Vedomosti also cited its own reporting of 18 September, based on the Health Ministry's state programme “Healthcare Development”, that children's hospitals in the regions will be able to buy class “C” ambulances for paediatric resuscitation teams using federal subsidy funds. Such hospitals can already buy medical devices for surgical, oncological and haematological care for children, as well as neonatological, ophthalmological, neurosurgical and other equipment, the paper said. From January 2027, it added, children's medical institutions will count as equipped only if contracts for all planned medical devices and resuscitation vehicles were signed in the reporting year and at least 95% of equipment was purchased, delivered and put into operation. [ 3 ]
None of the reports contained a response from Siluanov or the Finance Ministry, and no sum of money or number of vehicles was mentioned. TASS noted only that the Federation Council speaker said the fleet problem is relevant for every region; RIA Novosti reported the request without further detail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The request was made during hearings on the 2027–2029 federal budget, so it feeds directly into the spending decisions being drafted now. If taken up, it would affect regional emergency medical services and domestic vehicle producers, but the documents give no indication of the Finance Ministry's position or of any sums involved.
Key facts
- Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko asked Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to consider increasing funding to renew the ambulance vehicle fleet. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- She said the shortage of ambulance vehicles is an acute problem for all regions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She said renewing the fleet would support the domestic auto industry. [ 1 , 3 ]
- She said the condition of vehicles affects staffing, including turnover among ambulance drivers, because few want to work with cars that are broken down and often need repair. [ 1 , 3 ]
- She said citizens should receive medical care of a decent standard, including through ambulance services. [ 1 , 3 ]
- She made the remarks at parliamentary hearings on the draft budget for the next three years, which Vedomosti specified as 2027–2029. [ 1 , 3 ]
- In her view, the issue requires additional consideration. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Vedomosti reported on 18 September, citing the Health Ministry's state programme, that children's hospitals in the regions will be able to buy class “C” ambulances for paediatric resuscitation teams using federal subsidy funds. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the Finance Ministry will agree to additional funding for ambulance fleet renewal. No document reports a response from Anton Siluanov or from the ministry; the request is reported as a proposal for consideration.
- How much additional money is being sought and how many vehicles would be involved. No document states a figure or a fleet size; only the request to consider increasing funding is reported.
- When the hearings took place and whether any decision was taken at them. Interfax says Matviyenko spoke on Monday during the hearings, and Vedomosti dates the hearings to the 2027–2029 budget draft, but no document gives a decision or an outcome.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Interfax publishes the first detailed report of Matviyenko's request to Siluanov at the budget hearings. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports the request, noting that she said the fleet problem is acute in all regions. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti reports the request and adds background on federal subsidies for class “C” paediatric ambulances. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that Matviyenko proposed increasing funding for the ambulance fleet. [ 4 ]