MOSCOW, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - An expert urged on Wednesday a fourfold increase in pharmaceutical supplies to Russians to extend life expectancy in the country to 75 from 68 years.
The government has set the task of extending Russians' average life expectancy to 75 years by 2020, said Vladimir Shipkov, the executive director of the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers.
He said from $39 billion to $44 billion would be needed for that.
Although Shipkov doubted whether the government would be ready to provide such sums, he proposed raising the necessary funds through excise duty on tobacco and alcohol.
