It is proposed to encourage a tax rebate for a subscription to a fitness club.

What bonuses can be offered to citizens who have abandoned their bad habits, were decided at the “round table” in the State Duma on December 6. Russian deputies will not support the initiative for those Russians who are not inclined to observe a healthy lifestyle. In this case, the key to success is not accountability, but rational motivation.

Even the most ideal health care system is no guarantee that people will get sick less and live longer. According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, both human health and longevity are 60 percent dependent on its behavior and lifestyle. A number of factors affect the deterioration of well-being, including smoking, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet, and low physical activity.

The proposals of a number of experts, for example, to force the Russians to abandon their bad habits with "stick" did not support in the State Duma. Initiatives, for example, that medicine will no longer be free for smokers and drinkers, or that in case of serious illnesses they will be treated only after those who lead a healthy lifestyle, in fact, violate the constitutional rights of citizens who are guaranteed equal access to free medical care. Another thing is to motivate citizens to monitor their health. In the opinion of Nikolai Gerasimenko, employers could join this task. Among the initiatives of the participants of the “round table” taken into “development” is “to encourage organizations implementing corporate social programs aimed at maintaining the health of an employee”. In this case, this may include both tax benefits for employers and the establishment of the right of working citizens to receive social tax deductions for reimbursement of expenses “aimed at saving health”.

The official acknowledged that the Ministry of Health does not plan to oblige all companies, especially small and medium-sized ones, to do this: for business it will be a “significant financial burden”. But the "middle ground" can be found, experts believe.

A significant contribution to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle could be made by the media, according to the State Duma. Moreover, the minimum task for the TV channels is to at least refuse to advertise what is frankly harmful to human health. So, Nikolai Gerasimenko proposed to introduce a ban on the advertisement of harmful food. According to the deputy Sergei Natarov, it is necessary to toughen the responsibility for the media promoting "vicious lifestyle."

The Deputy to stop the flow of such information in the media proposed to provide for the responsibility for those TV channels who release such videos on the air. According to Natarov, appropriate amendments should be made to the law on the media and to the Administrative Code. At the same time, according to the deputy, a special massive advertising campaign could motivate people to lead a healthy lifestyle.