According to new rules that will come into effect on January 1, 2026, and will remain in force until January 1, 2027, some medical specialists will be able to work without accreditation. This project was published on the official regulatory acts portal.
The purpose of introducing exceptions is to address staffing issues in two main situations: in emergency conditions and to support specialists whose previous documents have expired.
1. Work in Emergency Conditions
When a state of emergency is declared (federal, interregional, or regional level), medical professionals may be engaged in work in the operating room or as anesthetists without mandatory accreditation, provided that certain conditions are met:
For medical students (from the 5th year) and doctors:
- Complete a special short training program (at least 72 hours, of which 36 hours are practical classes) to acquire the necessary skills.
- Work under the strict supervision of a senior operating room nurse or senior medical brother.
For mid-level medical staff (midwives, nurses):
- Have at least one year of experience in relevant positions (for example, in a dressing room, procedure room, or as a ward nurse).
- Complete similar short training (72 hours with practice).
- Work under the supervision of more experienced staff.
2. Extension of Work for Current Specialists
Specialists who worked in 2025 will be able to take advantage of a simplified transitional period. The condition is that their specialist certificate (the old document confirming the completion of residency) must have expired between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
This will allow them to continue working in their specialty without the need for urgent accreditation until the end of 2026.
3. Work in Related Specialties
For specialists with non-medical education (for example, biologists, chemists) holding medical positions, certain conditions are also established:
- Possession of a document confirming education in their specialty.
- Compliance with established qualification requirements for the position held.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Health's order is a temporary measure aimed at simplifying the transition to the new accreditation system and ensuring the mobilization of personnel in crisis situations. All specialists working under these rules will be under enhanced supervision by the heads of medical institutions.
Foreign medical professionals in Russia will be temporarily allowed to work without accreditation.
Source: rg.ru
