Russia operates a universal healthcare system funded largely by the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (OMC). Under this system, all citizens and registered residents are entitled to free basic medical care at state-run hospitals and clinics (polyclinics).
* **Public Healthcare:** The polyclinic system serves as the primary point of care, where patients see general practitioners and are referred to specialists. * **Private Healthcare:** A growing private healthcare sector exists, particularly in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, favored for shorter wait times and more modern amenities. Many employers offer private voluntary health insurance (VHI) as a benefit. * **Notable Hospitals:** Key facilities include the Sklifosovsky Institute of Emergency Care, the Bakulev Scientific Center of Cardiovascular Surgery, and Botkin Hospital in Moscow. * **Pharmacies:** Pharmacies (*Apteka*) are ubiquitous across cities and towns, often marked by a green cross. Many basic medications are available over the counter. * **Mental Health:** Mental health services are available through state psychoneurological dispensaries, though private therapy and counseling are becoming increasingly popular in urban centers as historical stigmas fade.
