The main purpose of the Conference was to discuss the principles laid down by the Oviedo Convention given continuing development of the biomedical science.

The agenda of the conference featured such issues as consent to medical intervention, donation and transplantation of cells, tissues, human organs, access to healthcare also for vulnerable groups, genetic research, brain research technologies, information technologies, including big data in the context of changing practice, scientific and technological progress in biomedicine, as well as continuing social changes.

Adviser to the Healthcare Minister of the Russian Federation Dr Lyalya Gabbasova took part in a round table on the priorities of the Council of Europe in the protection of human rights in biomedicine. The Russian side proposed to develop the recommendations of the Council of Europe on the consent of donors and their relatives for the transplantation of organs, tissues, cells. It was emphasized the there is a need to improve the conceptual framework of the Council of Europe documents on the basis of a cross-cutting approach (Council of Europe, World Health Organisation, UNESCO, European Union).

The results of the Conference will serve for the Council of Europe Committee on Bioethics as a basis for the strategic action plan for the period 2018-2019 on the protection of human rights in connection with the application of achievements in biology and medicine. This document is expected to determine common approaches, relevant thematic areas, new mechanisms and specific tools for achieving its objectives.

Bioethics is one of the most promising cooperation areas of the Russian Federation, and the Russian Ministry of Healthcare in particular, in the Council of Europe. Since 2015, the Russian Ministry of Healthcare has been actively cooperating with the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law and the Council of Europe Committee on Bioethics, which has resulted in numerous activities on the protection of human rights in the field of biomedicine, as well as the participation of Russian experts in the Council of Europe projects.

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Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine was opened for signature On April 4, 1997 in Oviedo (Spain). This Convention is the only international legally-binding document on the protection of human rights in the field of biomedicine.