ABSTRACT
The particularity of Russian health care federalism rests in the dramatic shifts in the relationship between the national and subnational units that arose due to the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). This event led to the recognition of the Russian Federation as an independent state, and to the transition to a market economy. 1 Historically, problems of federalism in Russia have been determined by geographical and socio-economic factors, and specifically by the disproportionate development of Russian regions and a low level of interregional cooperation on strategic joint projects. Significant regional disparity in economic as well as social and health indicators exacerbate difficulties in providing the population with accessible, good quality health services.
