Russia sharply cut funding for key medical programs

In 2026, Russian authorities significantly reduced funding for most key federal healthcare projects. Spending was cut in eight of the 11 main medical programs, with some areas losing more than half of their previously allocated funds.

This is reported by Rzeczpospolita. Calculations by Cursor analysts based on data from the Russian Ministry of Finance are also presented by The Moscow Times.

The federal project for modernizing primary healthcare, which envisages the construction and renovation of clinics in Russian regions, was cut the most. As of September 1, it allotted 59.1 billion rubles compared to 122.47 billion rubles a year earlier. Thus, funding is decreased by about 52%.

Even more noticeably, the authorities slashed the program for fighting oncological diseases. Its budget was cut from 148.46 billion to 44.9 billion rubles—more than threefold. The program’s funds were intended, in particular, for purchasing equipment for regional oncology centers and medications for patients.

Funding for the project on the development of federal medical organizations decreased by 38%—from 26.05 billion to 16.16 billion rubles. Spending on medical rehabilitation was cut by about a quarter—from 18.29 billion to 13.69 billion rubles.

Other areas also got less money. Spending on fighting cardiovascular diseases was cut by about 4% to 11.35 billion rubles. The project on providing medical staff lost about 15% of its funding—its budget dropped to 610 million rubles. Another roughly 17%, to 530 million rubles, was cut from the “Health for Everyone” program.

At the same time, authorities kept funding for some areas. About 4.5 billion rubles is still allotted for fighting hepatitis C, and spending on the diabetes program slightly increased—about 2% to 9.54 billion rubles.

The project of the national digital platform “Health” received a substantial increase. Its funding grew by 35% and reached 6.48 billion rubles. The platform is meant to consolidate citizens’ medical data in a unified information system.

Overall, funding for the reviewed federal medical projects decreased roughly by half: from 366 billion rubles a year earlier to 181.14 billion rubles in 2026.

Civilian spending cuts come as Russian military costs are skyrocketing. According to the estimates of German Institute for International and Security Affairs researcher Janis Kluge based on the data from the Russian Finance Ministry, in the first half of 2026 military- and weapons-related spending reached a record 10.687 trillion rubles.

This is about 30% more than in the same period last year. Military spending amounted to almost 44% of all Russia’s federal budget spending in the first half of the year. At the same time, Russian authorities are facing an increasing budget deficit, adding pressure on civilian spending items.