Transcript of the start of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Mr Rumyantsev (the head of the centre) and other colleagues,

To be honest, I didn't plan to hold any meetings today. I just wanted to see for myself the start of the construction of the child oncohematology centre. We discussed this with you two years ago. It took two years to arrange for the full funding, decide on the best project, and to receive the required permits.

I have to say that preparations for the project were also time-consuming. This wasn't easy, but I think in general, the plan chosen is the best one. It is worthy of Russia and our children. This will be one of Europe's largest centres. We are very happy to work directly with our German colleagues who have made considerable progress in treating child oncohematological diseases. This is a very positive sign for our advanced cooperation.

This will indeed be one of Europe's largest centres, which will support 78 national health clinics and help them master the methods of treatment. This centre will accommodate 400 children simultaneously; it will offer from 250 to 300 ward beds. Children will be able to stay with their parents, and feel almost at home. Experts believe that this will have a positive effect on their treatment.

I remember that Mr Rumyantsev and his colleagues told me that it is very important for children to feel at home as much as possible. These children are seriously sick, and their psychological condition is critical. There are facilities and provisions to make from 250 to 300 bone marrow transplants, and 1,700 chemotherapy treatment sessions a year. This will be a powerful scientific centre. I'm hoping that this centre will be one of Russia's biggest. This should apply not only to child hematology and oncology. Considering the centre's potential, I'm hoping that it will deal with paramedical sciences as well. Mr. Rumyantsev told me that the centre will embark on stem cell research.

This year, we have earmarked 1.7 billion roubles for the centre's construction, and will allocate another 500 million roubles before the year expires. The year ends a few days from now, but we will wire the money. Next year, we will allot 2.6 billion roubles. This is big money on a national scale, and even bigger on the scale of healthcare funding.

We were planning to complete construction by July 1, 2011. The contractors suggested that it would be better to do this by June 1, Children's Day. I don't think it will be difficult to move the deadline ahead one month, and this will be a good present for the future patients, and for the whole country because this is an important and selfless kind of effort.

Do you have any questions or needs?

Alexander Rumyantsev: Now we see that there will be a final result because construction of the centre has been intensive. Much work has been done by a number of city contractors, involved in the project, in the four months since the start of work. We would like to see the building under its roof next year, and celebrate this event together with our German colleagues. We will have to train personnel for the new centre. This is a very important issue because doctors, nurses, researchers, and laboratory technicians will require specialised training. This is a lengthy process, and we are involved in it now. We are receiving support from the Ministry of Health Care and Social Development, and the Public Council, which was organised by our German colleagues. They are represented here by Ms Andrea von Knoop. Our German colleagues are prepared to train some personnel abroad. We have to train 250 doctors in 40 specialties. We must train nuclear physicians, radiotherapists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, resuscitators, and laboratory workers. So, now we will be engaged in the training of personnel for the new centre.

Vladimir Putin: This is also very important because it is necessary to train them in parallel so that they are ready for the opening of the centre.

Alexander Rumyantsev: The most important feature of the centre is that it will employ young people, doctors and nurses who have just graduated or are about to graduate. In the next three years, they will receive special training. Thus, the centre will have young specialists speaking several languages, maintaining contacts with their foreign counterparts, having been trained abroad, primarily but not exclusively in Germany - we have proposals from other countries as well. On June 1, 2011 the centre should begin its work. There is every reason expect the timely completion of the project, and we are looking forward to it.

Vladimir Putin: I'd like to congratulate you on the coming New Year, and to wish you every success.

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Vladimir Putin went on to talk in German with Dr. Andrea von Knoop, honourary president of the Russian-German Chamber of Commerce.