Medical examination in 2023 and 2024: what is included and how to go about it

Clinical examination is a comprehensive medical examination that is carried out to assess the general health of a person. It can be covered under the compulsory medical insurance policy. Starting from the age of 18, it is recommended to undergo medical examination once every three years, even if there are no obvious health problems. Who is eligible for medical examination in 2023 and 2024 and how to get it – in the Kommersant certificate.

What years are included?

In the current year 2023, citizens who were born in 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002 or 2005 can undergo medical examination. The following preventive examinations are required for those born in 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997. Also, those who were born in 2006, 2003, 2000 will undergo medical examination in 2024.

If a person has not found his year of birth in the current year, he can undergo a preventive medical examination at the clinic to which he is attached. But it involves less research.

All Russians aged 40 years and older are recommended to undergo medical examination according to compulsory medical insurance annually.

What examinations are included?

The clinical examination program is aimed at two main objectives. The first is the early detection of diseases of the circulatory system. First of all, we are talking about coronary heart disease, lung diseases, malignant neoplasms, and diabetes mellitus. The second task is to identify these diseases as early as possible and correct the main risk factors for their development.

The list of examinations that can be completed as part of a medical examination is almost the same for both women and men. The list may change depending on the patient’s age or, for example, due to previous illnesses (for example, after COVID-19, some additional procedures may be found in the medical examination program).

The first person will be seen and examined by a therapist. He will also issue a route sheet. It will indicate which other doctors you need to visit and what examinations you need to undergo.

Clinical examination is carried out in two stages. For Russians aged 18 to 39 years, the first consists of:

• surveys, questions on lifestyle and risks;
• calculating body mass index;
• blood pressure measurements;
• blood test for total cholesterol;
• blood test for glucose;
• determining cardiovascular risk using a special scale;
• fluorography;
• ECG (performed at rest during the first examination, and then annually after reaching the age of 35);
• intraocular pressure measurements (performed for the first time, and also after 40 years – every year);
• examination of the skin and oral mucosa, palpation of the thyroid gland and lymph nodes to identify possible neoplasms.

For citizens over 40 years of age, this list is supplemented:

• determination of absolute cardiovascular risk;
• general blood test;
• several types of cancer screenings. This group includes a stool test for occult blood (performed on patients once every two years or annually for timely detection of colorectal cancer), esophagogastroduodenoscopy (included in the medical examination program for Russians over 45 years of age). Women aged 40–75 years have the option of getting a mammogram every two years (important for breast cancer prevention), and men aged 45, 50, 55 and 60 years, as well as 64 years, are recommended to get tested for prostate cancer.

For those who have had COVID-19, there are several special points in the medical examination program. For them, the list of standard examinations has been supplemented:

• saturation measurement;
• six-minute walk test;
• spirometry;
• general and biochemical blood tests, as well as a study that helps identify a tendency to blood clots;
• X-ray of the chest organs.

If risks are detected at the first stage, the doctor will issue referrals for in-depth examinations. At the second stage, he can prescribe consultations with specialized specialists (for example, an ophthalmologist, if intraocular pressure is increased, a coloproctologist for patients over 40 years old), scanning of the brachiocephalic arteries in men from 45 to 72 years old and women from 54 to 72 years old, colonoscopy, computed tomography of the lungs , spirometry, additional blood tests.

Each examination is required only for specific indications, which are listed in paragraph 18 of the order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

From 2024, for the first time, preventive measures may include testing for antibodies to hepatitis C. All Russians over 25 years of age will be able to undergo screening for free once every ten years. The Ministry of Health published the order for public discussion.

Each person who undergoes medical examination is issued a health passport, which contains conclusions and recommendations based on the examination results. The doctor determines the patient’s health group:

·I group. This includes people without any chronic diseases.

·II group. These are people who do not currently suffer from any chronic diseases, but are at increased risk.

·III group. These are people suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases who need constant medical supervision and medical care.

How to sign up

Pre-registration is required to undergo medical examination. An exception is medical examination in the Healthy Moscow pavilions in Moscow parks: here the service is provided without an appointment on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can sign up for an examination either at the reception desk of the selected medical institution or through the State Services portal. Citizens may also receive notifications that this year they have the right to undergo medical examination (for example, in their personal account on the government services portal).

In some regions, there may be territorial resources that also allow citizens to remotely make an appointment with a doctor for medical examination. For example, residents of Moscow can use the mos.ru website or the EMIAS.Info portal for this.

To undergo medical examination, you will need an identification document of the citizen (passport), as well as a compulsory medical insurance policy.

Is it possible to take time off from work?

According to the law, the employer is obliged to provide conditions for personnel to undergo medical examinations and medical examinations. Employees have the right to be released from work for one working day while retaining their place of work (position) and average earnings.

In order to “ask” for time off from the manager and undergo a medical examination, a citizen must write a written application.

Is it possible to refuse medical examination?

Medical examinations are carried out on a voluntary basis. Every person has the right to refuse a medical examination in whole or in part (for example, to undergo one or more examinations, while excluding the rest).

For representatives of some professions, medical examination is mandatory, for example:

• for workers of hazardous and hazardous industries, food industry, transport, public catering establishments;
• for employees of educational and medical institutions;
• for those working in the Far North;
• for shift workers.