Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America and the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of Public Health and Medical Science

The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation, hereinafter referred to as "the Participants,"

Considering the long history of collaboration between them;

Understanding the benefit of unified efforts to address public health problems of mutual concern;

Realizing the importance of international cooperation in the area of public health;

Desiring to foster greater understanding and strengthen relationships in health between the two Participants in the future;

Intending to strengthen the existing linkages between the medical and scientific research institutions of both countries in the area of public health and medical Science;

Have reached the following understandings:

1. The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to develop and strengthen cooperation between the Participants in the fields of public health, medicine and biomedical science in accordance with the following general principles:

    

   Cooperation will be conducted on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefits.

    

   Cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding is intended to support and strengthen relationships currently established in the fields of public health. medicine and biomedical science betw.een organizations and institutions in the Russian Federation and in the United States of America.
   

    

   The Participants intend to provide national and international organizations working in the area of public health, especially the World Health Organization, the opportunity to use experience gained in the course of cooperation.

    

2. The Participants intend to cooperate on current public health and medical science issues in the areas of:
   

    

    2.1.  Infectious Diseases, including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, including measures of pandemic preparedness and response;

    

    2.2.  Non-Communicable Diseases, including diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer;

    

    2.3.  Promoting Healthy Lifestyles, including reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption, reducing deaths resulting from road accidents and other trauma;

    

    2.4.  Maternal and Child Health Protection;

    

    2.5.  Improving Global Health, including facilitating international cooperation on the surveillance and monitoring of infectious diseases (including zoonoses), promoting implementation of the International Health Regulations, supporting the Millennium Development Goals, and strengthening health systems in developing countries, including the response to man-made and natural disasters; and

    

    2.6.  Other avenues of cooperation in the areas of public health and medical science, upon mutual consent of the Participants.

    

3. Joint activities within the framework of this Memorandum of Understanding will be conducted in the following forms:
   • Exchanges of information;
   • Exchange of delegations and specialists;
   • Coordination of programs and research projects;
   • Establishment of joint working groups;
   • Training activities; and
   • Organizing meetings, scientific conferences, workshops and symposia.

    

   The Participants intend to encourage the establishment of direct relationships between government institutions, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, institutions for scientific research and practical application, including scientific research institutions of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, as well as other respective organizations of the two countries to work on topics in public health and related areas.

    

4. The Participants designate appropriate offices to serve as their respective coordinator for cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding. The coordinating offices will facilitate the implementation of joint programs and analyze achievements realized under this Memorandum of Understanding.

    

   The Department ofInternational Cooperation in the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation is identified as the office responsible for coordinating cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding for the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation.

    

   The Office of Global Health Affairs in the United States Department of Health and Human Services is identified as the office responsible for coordinating cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding for the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

    

   In order to evaluate cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding, the Participants will hold annual meetings of representatives of organizations participating in such cooperative activities, alternately, in the Russian Federation and in the United States of America.

    

   Participants may consider other opportunities for more frequent consultations and other ways of cooperation within their respective authorities in forms and directions not specified in this Memorandum of Understanding.

    

   All activities undertaken pursuant to this Memorandum of Understanding will be conducted in accordance with the laws of the countries of the Participants and are subject to the availability of respective resources.

    

5. Cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding will be funded on the basis of separate arrangements between the Participants, utilizing financial resources available to them, or when appropriate, using resources of organizations and institutions participating in cooperation.

    

6. The Participants intend to resolve any differences of opinion arising in the course of implementation of this Memorandum by mutual consent through consultations and negotiations.

    

7. This Memorandum of Understanding is effective from the day of its signing.

    

8. This Memorandum of Understanding may be modified at any time by mutual written consent of the Participants.

    

9. This Memorandum of Understanding does not constitute an international agreement and does not create rights and obligations governed by international law.

Signed at Moscow, in duplicate, on this sixth day of July, 2009, in the English and Russian languages.

Last revised: July 09, 2009