Russia is losing doctors: the shortage of medical staff has reached a critical level.

According to inkorr.com: There is a growing shortage of primary care doctors, emergency medical services, and mid-level medical personnel in Russia. According to the data from the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, the number of medical workers subordinated to the Russian Ministry of Health has decreased from over 600,000 in 2000 to 549,000 in 2023. Only a third of them are directly engaged in patient work.

'The trend is similar for mid-level medical personnel: in 2024, there were 1.18 million workers in public and municipal institutions, which is 16% less than in 2000. Real incomes have not increased over the last decade, and in 40 regions, they have even decreased. This leads to high staff turnover in both public and private sectors'

Overload of medical staff

More than two-thirds of doctors are forced to work beyond the norm. For example, a district therapist serves an average of 2,800 patients with a standard of 1,700, while an emergency physician is responsible for 16,000 people instead of the regulated 9,500. As a result, there is an acute shortage of personnel in primary care and in specific specializations such as dentistry, urology, and gastroenterology.

Serious consequences

The shortage of medical personnel in Russia is becoming a larger problem. The decrease in the number of doctors and nurses leads to staff overload and the inability to provide quality service to all patients. This situation can have serious consequences for the country's healthcare system.

All this indicates that the healthcare system in Russia requires urgent reforms to improve working conditions for medical staff and ensure an adequate level of medical services. The need to attract new personnel and support them is becoming critically important to overcome this crisis.