Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was shown the plan of the entire complex, briefed on how construction work is progressing and the plans for equipping and staffing the centre. The prime minister went into the future operation theatre which has yet to be equipped.

The Smolensk Federal Medical Centre (FMC) has been under construction since 2008 and is due to be completed in 2012. The project will cost a total of 2.5 billion roubles, and once complete, the facility will have a capacity of 1,500 operations a year. The four-storey main building is already in place, and the other premises are under construction.

The FMC will have a 585-strong staff and will offer medical services to patients in five neighbouring regions in addition to the Smolensk Region.