Following the International Conference "Medicine and Sport: New Challenges"

April 23, 2013, within the discussion platform "Efficient Health Care", the International Conference "Medicine and Sport: New Challenges" took place. The Conference was organized by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration and the Business Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.

At the Conference, the participants discussed important issues in the field of sports medicine development. The agenda was determined, first of all, by the Instructions of the President of the Russian Federation stated following the meeting of the Council for Development of Physical Culture and Sport of the President of the Russian Federation on November 6, 2012, namely pertaining to the development of sports for children and young people, pupils and students, reconstruction of the system of health centers for medical care and physical training, as well as state programs initiated by the corresponding ministries and agencies oriented at popularization of mass physical training and sports, the most acute problems of medical and social services, establishment of sports infrastructure and rehabilitation facilities.

The Conference was opened by the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, President of the Olympic Committee of Russia Aleksandr Zhukov and the Rector of the RANEPA Vladimir Mau.

"Last year, we launched a series of events devoted to different aspects of health care and keeping fit. The conference focused on technological and organizational innovations took place in autumn", Mr. Mau said.

The speakers of the Conference which took place at the RANEPA were: the Head of the Administration of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation Sergei Shakhrai, Chairman of the Fund of Social Insurance of the Russian Federation Andrei Kigim, Deputy Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation Sergei Shelpakov, Assistant to the Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Anatoly Gulin, Chief Physician of the Federal Clinical Hospital under the Business Administration of the President of the Russian Federation Elena Yashina, Deputy Director of the Centre for Information Technologies in Management of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration Oleg Medvedev and many others.

In his welcoming speech, Aleksandr Zhukov pointed out that development of mass sport is one of priority areas of state policy today. Particular attention should be given to maintaining health of professional athletes. "Medicine for the sport of outstanding achievements – is what is used for practicing the most advanced technologies", Aleksandr Zhukov noted. He also told about the latest innovations in this field, for example tests with the use of genetic markers, aimed at identifying workforce capacity, as well as creation of biological and steroid passports. The report by the Head of the Administration of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation Sergei Shakhrai was devoted to the problems of child ophthalmology. He noted that 55% of school graduates in big cities have poor eyesight. According to him, one of efficient instruments for preventing and treating myopia is badminton. "This is not just sport, but also a way of life which cures children’s eyesight and maintains adults’ eyesight", Mr.Shakhrai noted. Within the framework of the third session, the Head of the Myopia Research Laboratory at the Helmholtz Moscow Research Institute of Eye Diseases under the Ministry of Health of Russia Elena Tarutta dwelled upon this issue: "Over the recent 20 years myopia incidence rate has increased by 1.5 times". She also added that one month of regular badminton exercises leads to better accommodation, thus, influencing the eyesight directly.

The Conference touched upon the issue of creating accessible conditions for integration and adaptation of people with disabilities. In particular, the Chairman of the Foundation for Social Insurance Andrei Kigim emphasized the need to develop rehabilitation and prosthetics programs, and form a register of disabled people. In his report, he underlined the need to develop mechanisms of insurance for the sports infrastructure. "The experience of private and commercial insurance should be integrated. The state cannot be responsible for everybody", he added.

Deputy Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation Sergei Shelpakov told about promising areas in development of physical training and mass sport as exemplified in the first Subprogram of the State Program "Development of Culture and Sport" within the framework of the Conference. He pointed to fitness technologies as an efficient tool for popularization of "the sport for everybody". "Fitness has become a platform where innovations in medicine and sports combine", he commented. According to Mr. Shelpakov, more than 5.4 million people are engaged in this activity in Russia.

At the session, the Deputy Director of the Center for Information Technologies in Management of the RANEPA Oleg Medvedev demonstrated in a real-time mode the latest specialized information technologies aimed at remote monitoring of health indicators for recreational and therapeutic physical treatment.

Assistant to the Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Anatoly Gulin told about the need to reestablish the system of medical and sports centers and adopt a corresponding departmental program aimed at their further development. In his speech, he pointed to the fact that such centers were left unnoticed in the program for modernization of the health care system and are left behind the programs for re-equipment, improvement of HR policy and strategic development.

Following her opening remarks in the second session, the Chief Physician of the Federal Clinical Hospital under the Business Administration of the President of the Russian Federation Elena Yashina emphasized the importance of up-to-date development mechanisms for social insurance and welfare in sports. The speakers discussed provisions of labour laws for sportsmen. Thus, Igor Baranovsky, the Director of the Professional Risk Insurance Department of the Fund of Social Insurance of the Russian Federation, analyzed the practice of enforcement of FZ-125 "On Mandatory Social Industrial Accident Insurance and Insurance against Occupational Diseases". Speaking about social welfare for sportsmen, the Head of the Social Adaptation Sector of the Russian Olympic Committee told about the development of a draft law which would take into account extra support for sportsmen, namely providing accommodation, extra benefits in credits and transport services.

The work of the second session was completed with a speech of the representative of the interactive platform’s regular partner– Deputy Commercial Director of Eurocopter Vostok Dmitry Perepelkin who shared experience in applying Eurocopter helicopters in Europe and the USA at sports events and training sessions, as well as improvement of the system of sanitary aviation in Russia.

The third session was also devoted to the outlook for development of medical and physical training centers from the point of view of personified approach in medical treatment for sportsmen, based on modern genetic research, monitoring information systems and hi-tech rehabilitation methods.

Boris Polyaev, the Chief Specialist on Sports Medicine of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation responsible for reconstruction of medical and physical training centers, note the importance of technologies presented at the Conference and the need of addressing the challenges accumulated.
The President of Casaverde Group and Casaverde Foundation Alberto Giménez Artes told about foreign experience in establishment of sports medicine centers and methods for arranging their work based on individual assessment of physical state of each patient. "Sports medicine means keeping a balance between the requirements of sports achievements and health care", the expert noted.

Yadulla Guliev, the Director of the Medical Informatics Research Centre of the A.Ailamazyan Program Systems Institute of RAS told about the implementation of a single information system for management of a medical treatment and preventive care facilities and an electronic card for athletes.

Further attention at the third session of the Conference was paid to the modern methods of remedial gymnastics. Thus, Stanislav Popov, the President of the Russian Dance Union, and Elena Yashina highlighted the importance of using ballroom dancing in treating IHD patients in postsurgical recovery. Besides, Boris Petrov, General Director of the Kremlin Equestrian Riding School, told about hippotherapy. Within the framework of the Conference, the Kremlin Equestrian Riding School demonstrated remedial gymnastics exercises.

The RANEPA is the largest social, economic and humanitarian university in Russia and Europe and ranks among the best high schools in all national ratings. Unique educational programs the Academy offers are aimed at preparing managers in medical sector institutions are one-of-a-kind in Russia. The RANEPA also actively supports the leading discussion platform in this field – "Efficient Health Care". Holding the Conference "Medicine and sport: New Challenges" at the RANEPA once again proved the Academy’s leading position in educational services sector.

Conference Operator – ACIG Group of Companies.

General Information Partner – ITAR TASS.