🇷🇺 Russia Healthcare Guide
Moscow and St Petersburg have competent private clinics — EMC and K+31 in Moscow, MEDEM in St Petersburg — but the gap between these cities and the rest of Russia is vast, with facilities in Siberia and the Far East running on outdated equipment and very limited English. Healthcare documentation in Russia is paper-based and bureaucratic, so having your complete medical summary saved in Russian and accessible offline is one of the most useful things you can prepare.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 103
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $20 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: high
Healthcare overview
Russia’s healthcare quality varies dramatically, with Moscow and St Petersburg offering modern private clinics while most regional facilities are significantly weaker. Private clinics in Moscow (European Medical Centre, GMS Clinic) and St Petersburg provide care comparable to Western Europe. Public hospitals technically provide free emergency care to foreigners, but language barriers and administrative hurdles make private clinics the practical choice for visitors.
Moscow private clinics
European Medical Centre and GMS Clinic in Moscow offer English-speaking GPs and specialists with international-standard equipment.
Regional quality variation
Healthcare quality drops sharply outside Moscow and St Petersburg. Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, and Kazan have adequate private options; elsewhere, expect basic facilities.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Russian pharmacies (apteka) are abundant in cities, with many open 24 hours in Moscow and St Petersburg. Some medications available OTC in Europe require a prescription in Russia, while others are the reverse. Brand names follow Russian conventions and may be unfamiliar. Carry your full supply and bring original packaging with the Russian trade name if known.
Russian trade names
Russian pharmacists use Cyrillic trade names. Bringing your medication’s Russian name (check before you travel) makes identification faster.
Tips for travellers
Moscow’s European Medical Centre and GMS Clinic, along with private facilities in St Petersburg, handle most specialist chronic conditions for international patients. Public university hospitals in Moscow (Sechenov, Pirogov) provide specialist care but with significant language barriers. Having your treatment history saved and accessible in Russian or English helps providers continue your care, particularly outside Moscow.
English-speaking specialist access
English-speaking specialists are concentrated in Moscow’s private clinics. In St Petersburg and beyond, Russian-language records are more practical.