Picture of the Day: A digest of the main news from September 24, 2025
Main
The Russian Ministry of Health has approved an updated Procedure for Providing Medical Care to Adults with Infectious Diseases. Effective December 1 , 2025, this document will replace the regulations in effect since 2012. Among the new provisions are the possibility of providing high-tech care to patients with infectious diseases, treating patients in day hospital settings, and reducing the number of mandatory positions in outpatient offices. The ministry also approved the possibility of using telemedicine technologies to care for patients with infectious diseases. These adjustments were developed taking into account the specifics of organizing medical processes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Russian Ministry of Labor has developed amendments to the government decree on the implementation of a pilot project for the comprehensive rehabilitation and habilitation of children with disabilities. The amendments extend the pilot project, which began in 2022, from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2028, and expand the pilot's geographic scope to 38 regions. The explanatory note to the draft document states that, during the project's implementation, approximately 8,800 children with disabilities have sought assistance, and as of September 1, 2025, approximately 7,000 patients have received rehabilitation services.
Exclusively
Following a surge in private investment in AI startups from 2015 to 2021, the government continues to aggressively promote the deployment of AI in healthcare, seeing its potential to improve standards and quality of medical care, especially in remote areas, and to alleviate the industry's acute staffing shortage. In 2025, the Russian Ministry of Health even launched a "federal incident"—a special project related to the clinical implementation of AI-enabled medical devices. To mark the tenth anniversary of the launch of the first thematic initiatives, Vademecum analyzed which projects focused on analyzing diagnostic images have achieved the target level of clinical significance and profitability.
Medical services market
Yuri Gaysinsky, a well-known pharmaceutical industry entrepreneur, has acquired a 24.5% stake in Fomin Clinic Nizhny Novgorod LLC, according to SPARK-Interfax. According to the businessman, he is participating in the medical project as an investor. Gaysinsky acquired the authorized capital of the chain's local subsidiary at the end of July 2025. The legal entity for the Nizhny Novgorod branch was registered at the end of 2024. The opening of the first clinic in the region was announced only on September 23, 2025.
Pharmaceutical business
According to the analytics company Cursor, from January 2021 to August 2025, government procurement of obesity medications in Russia increased nearly 20-fold. This growth was driven by new-generation drugs—GLP-1 receptor agonists, primarily semaglutide. Following the virtual withdrawal of the original Ozempic from the market, domestic generics filled the gap, and in 2025, new brands from Russian manufacturers entered the market, accounting for 98% of the market. Analysts predict that traditional medications will inevitably give way to more effective molecules, and that locally produced generics will drive market development in the coming years.
Career
• The Governor of the Jewish Autonomous Region, Maria Kostyuk, has appointed Deputy Minister of Health Natalia Khorova as a senator representing the regional government in the Federation Council. According to Kostyuk, the official is an experienced economist, which will allow her to "defend the interests of the autonomous region at the federal level." Khorova has served as Deputy Minister of Health since June 2014; as reported to Vademecum by the ministry, she is currently on leave. Khorova's resignation from her position as Deputy Minister has not been officially announced.
• Yuri Katsman has been appointed CEO of the medical technology company Doctor Nearby. He will be responsible for development strategy, teamwork, and the company's key projects, including telemedicine services and AI-based solutions. This personnel change is intended to strengthen Doctor Nearby's market position and accelerate the implementation of innovations in healthcare. Katrin Soomre, who has been CEO since October 2024, has decided to focus on other projects.
• Tatevik Kotanjyan has been appointed to the newly created position of Marketing Director at the Nizhny Novgorod pharmacy chain Maxavit. Previously, according to the company's website, this responsibility fell under the purview of the Chief Operating Officer. In her new position, Kotanjyan will focus on scaling the pharmaceutical retailer's projects, improving communications efficiency, and creating "the most transparent and long-term collaboration formats."
Regions
The Bryansk Region has seen a change in healthcare leadership: Tatyana Markina, previously the first deputy head of the department, has been appointed acting head of the regional Department of Health. Her predecessor, Sergei Galaganov, has been promoted to acting deputy governor overseeing the sector. Galaganov led the Department of Health since August 2021. The appointments are related to the end of the previous regional government's term: former deputy governor Andrei Bardukov, who left his post on September 19, has been appointed head of the Bryansk Regional Oncology Dispensary.
Organization of medical care
The Moscow Department of Health has approved an order "On the Routing of Patients to Competence Centers for Limb Amputation." The document describes a three-stage routing algorithm, lists specific indications and contraindications, and provides a list of seven Moscow medical facilities to which specialized patients can be referred. Transportation to these clinics will be handled by the A.S. Puchkov Emergency and Urgent Medical Care Station.
Criminal cases
The Central District Court of Novosibirsk sentenced Elena Khrustaleva, the former head of the regional office of Roszdravnadzor. The former official was found guilty of abuse of office, fraud, and attempted fraud. She was given a suspended three-year prison sentence with a probationary period of two and a half years, a fine of 40,000 rubles, and a ban on holding any civil service positions for eighteen months. Her accomplice, Sergey Granin, also received a suspended sentence, and both defendants were ordered to pay 200,000 rubles to Roszdravnadzor. The sentence has not yet entered into force, and the defense intends to appeal the ruling.
Other news:
A draft of the updated Procedure for medical care for children in ophthalmology was presented.
SuperJob: A radiologist at an oncology clinic in Nizhny Tagil can earn upwards of 120,000 rubles.
Poll: 70% of Russians believe it is necessary to monitor the work of health insurance companies
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