Health in Russia and Other Soviet Successor States: Context and Issues for Congress

Publication Date: May 2001

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government; Health

Type:

Coverage: Russia (Federation)

Abstract:

Health issues in the New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union have received increased U.S. attention in recent years. As part of this concern, a January 2000 U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) highlighted global threats posed to U.S. citizens and interests by increasing tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases outside U.S. borders. While mostly focusing on disease threats emanating from Africa and Asia, the NIE also highlighted the NIS as an emerging concern. It warned that increased political, military, social, and economic disorder in the NIS could be worsened by the spread of disease, thereby setting back NIS democratic and free market reforms, and that such instability might further complicate U.S. arms control cooperation and efforts to contain the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In addition, the NIE cautioned that NIS militaries could face increased ill-health, harming the national security of the states in which they are deployed, their effectiveness in international peacekeeping could be diminished, and the troops could become agents for the spread of diseases among U.S. and other peacekeepers, troops involved in international exercises and training, and among civilian populations.

Congressional concerns about health conditions in the NIS have been reflected in legislative language and other actions, but the major foci of U.S. policy have remained democratic and economic reforms and arms control. U.S. health aid has hovered at about 5-7% of all U.S. foreign assistance to the NIS in recent years, not greatly increasing or decreasing, and cumulative U.S. aid obligations for FY1992FY2000 for health programs in the NIS are about 5% of about $16.5 billion for all programs. While this aid is overshadowed by other U.S. aid priorities, many policymakers and analysts have increasingly argued that health aid buttresses other assistance.

The Foreign Operations Appropriations for FY2001 (P.L. 106-429) provides not less than $45 million for child survival, environmental health, and combating infectious diseases, and for related activities in the NIS. It also includes funds for healthcare and environmental health epidemiology in Ukraine and for expanding primary healthcare in Ukraine, Georgia, and Russia. Nonetheless, since FY1999, the dollar amounts of U.S. health assistance to the countries of the NIS have increased only to Tajikistan and declined for most other countries.

This report provides an overview of health conditions in the NIS, U.S. aid efforts in recent years, and issues which Congress might consider in providing health assistance to the NIS.