An agreement on Russian medical aid has given hope to residents of Abkhazia.

The level of healthcare in Abkhazia is far from that of Russia, so the opportunity to receive free treatment in Russian clinics will significantly improve the lives of people in the republic, Abkhaz analysts are confident.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on February 6, the Russian Embassy in Abkhazia announced the cessation of issuing Russian passports in Abkhazia. This decision was made following statements by Abkhaz parliamentarians who questioned the legality of the Russian document issuance centers that opened in January. The exchange of driver's licenses for Russian ones has also been suspended in Abkhazia. A number of Abkhaz politicians criticized their colleagues, whose statements prompted the Russian side to close the issuance centers. On February 16, the President of Abkhazia stated that there were "attempts to politicize" the issue and announced an appeal to Russian authorities asking them to resume issuing passports in the republic.

The agreement between the Russian and Abkhazian Ministries of Health allows residents of the republic with Russian passports to use Russian medical services funded by the Compulsory Medical Insurance (CMI) fund. Political scientist Natella Akaba, Abkhaz activist Jansukh Adleiba, and an expert who has studied Abkhazia for many years commented on this change to the "Caucasian Knot."

Residents of Abkhazia could previously only find highly qualified medical care in Russia, but the new agreement will significantly improve access to healthcare, Natella Akaba is confident.

“In Russia, medicine is much more developed than ours, and whenever we had any serious problems, we went to Moscow. We are very grateful that Russian doctors treat us, and that now, with the signing of this agreement, it will be easier for us to access them,” she told the Caucasian Knot.

“We signed an agreement that allows residents of Abkhazia who hold Russian citizenship to receive medical care at our [Russian] centers. As part of our cooperation and friendship, this is a serious, big step to help the citizens of Abkhazia,” TASS quoted Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko as saying on March 16.

Russian legislation previously limited the access of Abkhaz residents with Russian citizenship to services at Russian clinics, according to an expert who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Russian law stipulates that in order to receive medical services in clinics and hospitals, you need to be registered in Russia. It's clear that an ambulance can pick you up without registration, but in other cases, no. The agreement closes this gap,” he stated.

He also called the opportunity to receive treatment under the compulsory medical insurance system in Russia a significant improvement in the lives of Abkhazia's residents. “The healthcare system in Abkhazia is formally free, but, for example, syringes have to be purchased out of pocket. And for all more or less serious issues, people try to travel to Sochi or elsewhere in the Krasnodar Territory,” he explained.

Dzhansukh Adleiba confirmed that the Abkhaz healthcare system is inferior to the Russian one. “Medicine is better in Russia, and for Abkhazia's residents with Russian citizenship, the conclusion of such an agreement is a great benefit,” he noted.