Freemedicaltreatment is guaranteed under the Russian Constitution, but outside Moscow, the right to health seems to be reserved for those who can pay for private care.
Although the uninsured can usually find freetreatment for acute complaints, such as heart attacks, they lack regular medical attention, which is the key to dealing with chronic, expensive conditions such as diabetes.
During a debate in the assembly, Mr Millar also said it was time for an open discussion about whether people seeking medicaltreatment for injuries sustained while drunk should continue to be treated for free.