MOSCOW, January 1 (Itar-Tass) —— Those who have filed earlier their applications, will be able to receive their universal electronic cards /UEC/ beginning from January 1, like it has been planned, Alexei Popov of the UEC company said.
In some pilot regions, the company started issuing the cards in 2012 already. The card’s term is five years, and it is very probable that in five years’ time the card may be changed for an electronic passport. The option of electronic passports has been discussed very actively, and a decision may be due within first six months of the current year.
The electronic card, Popov said, will give access to commercial and socially important services, and besides it will replace many paper documents.
“With the card, a holder receives a qualified electronic signature,” he said. “I hope that within the New Year together with the ministry of communications and Rostelecom /Russia’s major communication services provider/ we shall finalise integration of the United Identification System with the portal of state services.”
The cards will be used for electronic insurance system as well as for medical services.
“As for the healthcare system, the situation is worse here,” Popov said. “Only fewer than one percent of medical facilities are using services of electronic medical records.”