Siberian Town Dismayed By Maternity Ward's Closure

Residents of Bograd, a small town in southeastern Siberia, have lost their fight to save the local maternity ward. It was declared unprofitable by health authorities. Pregnant women from Bograd and surrounding villages will now have to travel up to 150 kilometers to give birth. The ward's closure takes place against the backdrop of controversial healthcare reforms that have slashed the number of state-run medical facilities across the country and left thousands of doctors without jobs. (RFE/RL's Russian Service)