MOSCOW, November 16, /ITAR-TASS/. President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian Health Ministry to provide medical assistance to Syria.

The instructions were issued after Putin’s telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on November 14, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

“Considering reports about problems in Syria’s healthcare system, the President of Russia made the decision to provide assistance to Syria in the form of drugs, medical disposables and first aid kits,” Peskov said on Saturday, November 16.