Chechnya outstrips Dagestan in people with disabilities

Although Chechnya has been recognized as one of the healthiest regions in Russia, the number of people treated as disabled is growing in the republic; by this indicator, it has already outstripped Dagestan.

According to the statistics run by the Russian Ministry of Public Health, in 2017 the least number of diseases was recorded in Kabardino-Balkaria (95,473.8) and Chechnya (112,108.9).

The "Fontanka" newspaper reports that Dagestan has received the nickname of the "republic of cripples" "for selling false documents to those who are not disabled, but receive state benefits."

Among the "bonuses" granted to those who have the status of a "disabled person", there are discounts on housing and communal bills, free travels by public transport, vouchers to sanatoriums and a shorter working week.

Meanwhile, according to the "Rosstat" (the Federal State Statistics Service), as of November 1, 2017, Ingushetia and Chechnya were Russia's leaders in the number of unemployed.

Experts link the increase in the number of disabled people in Chechnya to the consequences of military campaigns.

In 2009, Mairbek Khasiev, the chief expert of the medical and social expertise of Chechnya, also spoke about the detrimental impact of psychogenic factors on human health.

"In recent years, we see an increase in the number of patients with cardiovascular and oncology diseases, which is largely the result of shocks during the years of military operations in the republic," he said as quoted by the website of the head and government of Chechnya.