&w=3840&q=100)
Russia's new $60-bonus plan to lift birth rate, plans to pay doctors to curb abortions
The first incentive, totalling 25,000 rubles (approximately $300), is aimed at gynaecologists and obstetricians trained in providing psychological counselling to patients contemplating abortion read more
A city in Russia has offered a bonus to doctors and medical practitioners if they successfully change the minds of pregnant women from aborting, as the country tries to reverse the trend of population decline.
The Russian city of Murmansk, which is located in the Arctic Circle, has sent a memo to doctors offering monetary benefits for discouraging their female patients from undergoing abortions.
A total number of 4,298 babies were born in Murmansk between January and October 2024, a decrease of 286 than the previous year, data from local statistics show.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The first incentive, totalling 25,000 rubles (approximately $300), is aimed at gynaecologists and obstetricians trained in providing psychological counselling to patients contemplating abortion. To receive the payment, doctors must not only persuade the woman to abandon her plans for an abortion before 12 weeks of pregnancy but also oversee her care through to the delivery of the baby.
Under the proposal, doctors from other specialities and certified counsellors without medical degrees would be awarded bonuses of 5,000 rubles (about $60) for successfully persuading a pregnant woman not to proceed with an abortion.
Murmansk's Governor Andrey Chibis last year called the population decline in his city 'a problem and a challenge for the country as a whole and for Murmansk Region in particular.'
The document sent to medical practitioners says that the proposal has been made 'to prevent termination of pregnancy and increase birth rates in the Murmansk Region.'
Russia is experiencing a significant demographic crisis, marked by a declining population, historically low birth rates, and increasing mortality. According to Rosstat, Russia's population could decrease from approximately 146 million to 138.8 million by 2046 under the baseline forecast, or to 130 million in a more pessimistic scenario.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
Russia emerges as top study destination for Indian medical students
The 26th Russian Education Fair 2025 was held in the country's capital at the weekend and saw great crowds of learners and parents keen to find international learning opportunities, especially medical studies. Organised by the Russian House in New Delhi in association with Rus Education, the fair was organised at the Russian House on Firoz Shah Road. The event had the participation of some of the top Russian government universities, which offered information on medical, engineering and other higher studies fair was part of a larger effort that would be conducted in nine Indian cities -- Mumbai, Trivandrum, Kolkata, New Delhi, Patna, Ahmedabad, Indore, Chandigarh and Jaipur—mirroring the growing interest of Indian students in pursuing their studies of leading Russian universities, without any exception, like Orenburg State Medical University, Perm State Medical University, BB Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University, Pskov State University and Mari State University, visited. They spoke to the students personally, offering facts on courses, admissions, facilities, hostel facilities and life in Russia. According to organisers, Russia is still one of the top choices among Indian students to pursue MBBS and other professional courses due to the low cost, medium in English, and global Elena Remizova, Director of the Russian House, underscored the significance of the fair in deepening Indo-Russian relations. "Education is one of the four pillars of Indo-Russian cooperation which is the most robust. With such events, we plan to empower Indian students and exchange academic and cultural relations," she fair also considered the general education scenario in India, where increased competition, premium prices and shortage of places in professional courses are compelling students to look beyond its greater reach and expanding partner institution list, the Russian Education Fair 2025 continues to be a significant platform that connects Indian aspirations to quality foreign future editions of the fair will extend to other capital cities, and will continue to offer students from across the country a chance to learn about educational prospects in continues to be a leading destination for Indian students pursuing medical education, with around 23,500 currently enroled in various medical universities across the country, as per the data of MEA.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
NEET UG: 26th Russian Education Fair held in Delhi; main focus on medical education
The Russian Centre for Science and Culture, in collaboration with Rus-Education, hosted the 26th Russian Education Fair in New Delhi on Saturday. The event primarily highlighted opportunities in medical education in Russia and featured representatives from 10 leading Russian universities offering undergraduate courses in medical sciences (MBBS). The event saw representation from prominent Russian universities, including Orenburg State Medical University, Perm State Medical University, BB Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University, Pskov State University, and Mari State University, among others. From AI-based identification to simpler registration process: ETS to introduce changes in TOEFL Earlier this month, the Russian Education Fair was held in Mumbai, Trivandrum, Kolkata, Patna, Ahmedabad, and Indore. The fair will next be hosted in Chandigarh and then in Jaipur. Speaking at the event, Dr Elena Remizova, Director, Russian House in New Delhi, said: 'Education is one of the strongest pillars of Indo-Russian cooperation. Through initiatives like the Russian Education Fair, we aim to empower Indian students with access to world-class universities in Russia.' Delegates from these select universities interacted with students, sharing insights into the admission process, course structure, academic programs offered, along with support facilities such as infrastructure, hostel facilities, and overall student life in Russia. Speaking to the the vice chancellor of Mari State University explained that there is no blanket cap on admissions for Indian students in Russian universities, unlike in several Western countries where restrictive immigration policies and admission limits are impacting international student intake. 'The Russian Federation will make every effort to accept everyone and guarantee them a decent education,' she said, while emphasising that quality assurance must go hand-in-hand with expanding access. According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the number of Indian students in Russia increased from 19,784 in 2022 to 23,503 in 2023 and further to 31,444 in 2024, reflecting a steady rise in enrolments, particularly in medical education. Responding to questions about the increasing attractiveness of Russia as an alternative destination, the vice chancellor said that while other countries are tightening their immigration and education policies, Russia is choosing a more open path. 'We are not looking at limiting the number of seats,' she noted. Instead, the Russian government and universities are actively working to increase the number of seats for Indian students, especially in medical programs. However, this expansion, she cautioned, is not without checks. 'We have to guarantee the quality of medical education that we are providing to Indian students,' she added. This is crucial because many Indian students pursuing MBBS in Russia eventually sit for India's licensing examination, which determines their eligibility to practice back home. He added that Russian universities are not only focusing on completing the curriculum but also preparing students specifically for the Indian licensing exams. She acknowledged that reducing seat availability might be an easier route, but maintaining and improving educational standards while expanding capacity is the more challenging and more important path. 'To increase the number of seats and to maintain that quality of education that the universities have a legacy of, it is a more difficult thing, and we are taking all the measures,' she said. The vice chancellor revealed that last year, around 34,000 Indian students travelled to Russia for higher education – the vast majority of them for medical studies. 'Ninety-nine per cent students travel for medical courses only, because for engineering and other courses there is not such demand,' she explained. This demand stems from the imbalance in India's own medical education system, where around 24-25 lakh students appear for the NEET exam every year, but only about 1 lakh MBBS seats are available across both government and private institutions. Looking ahead, Russian universities are preparing to accommodate over 40,000 Indian students in medical programs this year alone. When asked about the factors attracting Indian students to Russia, the vice chancellor pointed to a blend of historical, economic, and cultural reasons. 'The first aspect is the long-standing diplomatic relations between the two countries,' she said, noting that the first Indian student went to Russia in 1948, and the first medical student followed in 1968. This continuity, she added, has ensured that geopolitical or political disturbances have never disrupted the educational journeys of Indian students in Russia, a key concern for families when choosing a destination. Secondly, affordability is a major draw. In India, private medical education can cost over Rs 1 crore, whereas in Russian universities, the entire six-year MBBS course costs between Rs 18 lakh and Rs 45 lakh, making it far more accessible. In addition, many Russian universities have adapted their infrastructure to cater specifically to Indian students. 'There are separate hostels for Indian students, separate arrangements for boys and girls as per the requirements of the parents here,' she said. Facilities such as Indian mess, departments for cultural adaptation, and special safety protocols – including 24-hour CCTV surveillance and police patrolling make Indian students and their families feel more at ease. Lastly, the global recognition of Russian medical degrees means that graduates can pursue careers not just in India but also in countries like the US and the UK. When asked whether there is a fixed cap on the number of Indian students each university can admit, the vice chancellor stated that individual universities set their own intake limits based on available infrastructure and teaching staff. 'Some universities have 500 seats, some universities have 200 seats,' she said. The vice chancellor also mentioned that a new university has entered the Russian-Indian education market this year, starting with an initial intake of 100 Indian students to test its facilities and systems. 'Universities have their own set of guidelines according to which they prescribe the number of students they can take,' she concluded.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
26th Russian Education Fair held in Delhi; main focus on medical education
The Russian Centre for Science and Culture, in collaboration with Rus-Education, hosted the 26th Russian Education Fair in New Delhi on Saturday. The event primarily highlighted opportunities in medical education in Russia and featured representatives from 10 leading Russian universities offering undergraduate courses in medical sciences (MBBS). The event saw representation from prominent Russian universities, including Orenburg State Medical University, Perm State Medical University, BB Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University, Pskov State University, and Mari State University, among others. Earlier this month, the Russian Education Fair was held in Mumbai, Trivandrum, Kolkata, Patna, Ahmedabad, and Indore. The fair will next be hosted in Chandigarh and then in Jaipur. Speaking at the event, Dr Elena Remizova, Director, Russian House in New Delhi, said: 'Education is one of the strongest pillars of Indo-Russian cooperation. Through initiatives like the Russian Education Fair, we aim to empower Indian students with access to world-class universities in Russia.' Delegates from these select universities interacted with students, sharing insights into the admission process, course structure, academic programs offered, along with support facilities such as infrastructure, hostel facilities, and overall student life in Russia. 'Preferred destination for Indian medical aspirants' Speaking to the the vice chancellor of Mari State University explained that there is no blanket cap on admissions for Indian students in Russian universities, unlike in several Western countries where restrictive immigration policies and admission limits are impacting international student intake. 'The Russian Federation will make every effort to accept everyone and guarantee them a decent education,' she said, while emphasising that quality assurance must go hand-in-hand with expanding access. According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the number of Indian students in Russia increased from 19,784 in 2022 to 23,503 in 2023 and further to 31,444 in 2024, reflecting a steady rise in enrolments, particularly in medical education. No cap, but quality first Responding to questions about the increasing attractiveness of Russia as an alternative destination, the vice chancellor said that while other countries are tightening their immigration and education policies, Russia is choosing a more open path. 'We are not looking at limiting the number of seats,' she noted. Instead, the Russian government and universities are actively working to increase the number of seats for Indian students, especially in medical programs. However, this expansion, she cautioned, is not without checks. 'We have to guarantee the quality of medical education that we are providing to Indian students,' she added. This is crucial because many Indian students pursuing MBBS in Russia eventually sit for India's licensing examination, which determines their eligibility to practice back home. He added that Russian universities are not only focusing on completing the curriculum but also preparing students specifically for the Indian licensing exams. She acknowledged that reducing seat availability might be an easier route, but maintaining and improving educational standards while expanding capacity is the more challenging and more important path. 'To increase the number of seats and to maintain that quality of education that the universities have a legacy of, it is a more difficult thing, and we are taking all the measures,' she said. Medical study demand The vice chancellor revealed that last year, around 34,000 Indian students travelled to Russia for higher education – the vast majority of them for medical studies. 'Ninety-nine per cent students travel for medical courses only, because for engineering and other courses there is not such demand,' she explained. This demand stems from the imbalance in India's own medical education system, where around 24-25 lakh students appear for the NEET exam every year, but only about 1 lakh MBBS seats are available across both government and private institutions. Looking ahead, Russian universities are preparing to accommodate over 40,000 Indian students in medical programs this year alone. Why Indian students prefer Russia When asked about the factors attracting Indian students to Russia, the vice chancellor pointed to a blend of historical, economic, and cultural reasons. 'The first aspect is the long-standing diplomatic relations between the two countries,' she said, noting that the first Indian student went to Russia in 1948, and the first medical student followed in 1968. This continuity, she added, has ensured that geopolitical or political disturbances have never disrupted the educational journeys of Indian students in Russia, a key concern for families when choosing a destination. Secondly, affordability is a major draw. In India, private medical education can cost over Rs 1 crore, whereas in Russian universities, the entire six-year MBBS course costs between Rs 18 lakh and Rs 45 lakh, making it far more accessible. In addition, many Russian universities have adapted their infrastructure to cater specifically to Indian students. 'There are separate hostels for Indian students, separate arrangements for boys and girls as per the requirements of the parents here,' she said. Facilities such as Indian mess, departments for cultural adaptation, and special safety protocols – including 24-hour CCTV surveillance and police patrolling make Indian students and their families feel more at ease. Lastly, the global recognition of Russian medical degrees means that graduates can pursue careers not just in India but also in countries like the US and the UK. Is there a cap on the number of students that can be admitted? When asked whether there is a fixed cap on the number of Indian students each university can admit, the vice chancellor stated that individual universities set their own intake limits based on available infrastructure and teaching staff. 'Some universities have 500 seats, some universities have 200 seats,' she said. The vice chancellor also mentioned that a new university has entered the Russian-Indian education market this year, starting with an initial intake of 100 Indian students to test its facilities and systems. 'Universities have their own set of guidelines according to which they prescribe the number of students they can take,' she concluded.
