State Duma Approves Controversial Legislation Mandating Young Doctors to Serve in Public Health for Three Years

On Tuesday, Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved a bill that mandates new medical graduates to serve in state hospitals and clinics for a period of up to three years. The initiative aims to address the persistent staffing shortages in the nation’s public healthcare system.

As per the proposed legislation, which revives a practice from the Soviet era, medical graduates will be obligated to undertake a phase of «mentorship» in state or municipal medical facilities that are part of the compulsory health insurance framework. The Health Ministry of Russia will determine which graduates are subject to this requirement and how long their mentorship period will last.

Graduates who decline to participate in the mentorship program will face various penalties, depending on how their education was financed. Those whose tuition was paid with a commitment to serve in the public sector will be required to repay their university and face an additional penalty equal to 200% of their tuition costs. Graduates who financed their own education and others may experience a suspension of their medical credentials.

If this bill is approved by the Federation Council and subsequently signed by President Vladimir Putin, it will come into effect on March 1, 2026, affecting graduates from that date forward.

State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin remarked that the overwhelming workload of hospital staff and the high influx of patients beyond recommended levels is straining Russia’s public health services and deteriorating the quality of care. He referenced statistics indicating that, as of early 2025, Russia was short approximately 23,300 doctors and 63,600 mid-level medical staff.

The bill was passed unanimously by the lower house after minor procedural adjustments, as reported by independent journalist Farida Rustamova.

She also highlighted worries from two lawmakers, who expressed that the proposed requirements might deter young medical professionals from fulfilling their mentorship commitments, particularly in rural or isolated regions, due to the absence of housing support and other necessary assistance, which the current draft does not address.

In the Soviet healthcare system, newly graduated physicians were assigned to work in designated hospitals or clinics for a duration ranging from three to five years.