Progress in controlling infectious diseases continued to be made throughout the entire Soviet period, with crude mortality rates from infectious diseases falling from 87 per 100 000 in 1960 to 21 in 1980 and 12 in 1991 (representing a fall of 86%) (7). Yet these successes were not reflected in improvements in the overall health status of the population.

Tulchinsky, T.H. and Varavikova, E.A. “Addressing the Epidemiologic Transition in the former Soviet Union: Strategies for health system and public health reform in Russia” American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 86, No.3, March 1996.