Медицинское страхование в России (Health Insurance in Russia)

Health insurance in Russia

     The Russian Federation inherited its medical and healthcare system from the Soviet Union. While the modern Russian Federation abides by the socialist principle of free healthcare for everyone, the standards of healthcare in Russia have significantly dropped over last two decades as the country adopted a free-market economy. Recent efforts by the government to improve the healthcare system by injecting more funds, as well as introducing a compulsory medical insurance plans, will take time to prove effective.

      Important distinctions should be made here between the obligatory medical insurance and voluntary medical insurance schemes. The former is provided and required by the government. According to new regulations, any person who is a citizen of the Russian Federation is entitled to receive free medical care at any hospital or polyclinic anywhere in the country. The same rule applies to foreign nationals who are permanent or temporary residents, if their employer or client has applied for the scheme on their behalf. While concept of free healthcare may sound promising on paper, it is far from being the case. The medical services provided under the national obligatory medical insurance scheme are severely limited.

     However, it is important to note that the overall quality of medical facilities and services in Russia barely meet international standards. Due to a large deficit of medical supplies, extremely low wages of medical workers, and a crippled bureaucratic setup of healthcare system, receiving treatment in a Russian hospital or polyclinic might be more harmful than beneficial.

     The OMI funds currently are collected more effectively. They provide important help to the health care system, but the established tariff level (3.6 percent from an enterprise's total salary amount) is still insufficient because of constantly diminishing budgetary support.

     The health care in Russia are directly interwoven with the nation's future socio-economic development. The future depends on the extent to which and by whom health care will be funded as a system-through the state budget, by special funds, or by people directly.

Медицинское страхование в России

     Российская Федерация унаследовала свою систему здравоохранения от Советского Союза. В то время как современная Российская Федерация придерживается социалистического принципа бесплатного здравоохранения для всех, стандарты здравоохранения в России значительно снизились за последние два десятилетия, когда страна приняла экономику свободного рынка. Предпринимаемые в последнее время правительством усилия по совершенствованию системы здравоохранения за счет увеличения объема вводимых средств, а также внедрения планов обязательного медицинского страхования потребуют времени для того, чтобы доказать свою эффективность.