The Russian government should make every effort to switch to budget planning based on targeted programs from 2014, President-elect Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
The government previously planned to launch this budget approach from 2013.
"Only 39 out of 41 required programs have been prepared but far from all of them have been adopted. We need to do everything to make budget projections for 2014 based on target programs," Putin told the enlarged board of the country's Finance Ministry.
"This is very important from the viewpoint of the effective use and spending of government resources," he added.
Under the new approach, government programs should cover all sectors of the economy, irrespective of their affiliation with particular ministries and departments. Putin also told the board that the current system had disadvantages as budget funds are not focused in specific areas.
"For example, budget funds earmarked for health care are concentrated not only in the health ministry but also in all sectoral departments, which run health care establishments," he said.
"As a result, we can’t see what’s going on in major sectors as a whole," Putin added.
