New Russian Law Requiring Medical School Graduates to Work as Assigned Already Backfiring

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Nov. 20 – A Russian law that will go into effect next year requires that those who graduate from medical schools in the Russian Federation work in their field and as assigned by the health ministry for a period of time is already backfiring, leading some medical school students to quit and students in others fearful that they will be subject to the same restrictions.

            Having done so much to destroy Russian healthcare with his “optimization” program that has closed hospitals and clinics across the country, Putin has now pushed through a law that will require medical school graduates to work as assigned after graduation (semnasem.org/articles/2025/11/20/mediki-nedovolny-zakonom-ob-otrabotke)

            This measure is designed to cope with a situation in which ever more medical school graduates don’t work in their profession or work in private clinics where they can make more money thus leaving public hospitals especially in rural areas from the capital without the staff they need.

            But even before it goes into effect, the new law is backfiring. On the one hand, some students in medical universities are leaving lest they fall victim to this measure which goes into full effect on March 1, 2026. And on the other, students in other subjects are expressing concern that they will be next as Putin restores yet another hated Soviet-era policy.

            Medical schools are now working hard to retain their students, although with mixed success (https://www.nakanune.ru/articles/124121/), and teacher-training institutions are becoming increasingly alarmed that they will be the next to be subject to such government rules (kavkazr.com/a/dobro-pozhalovatj-v-krepostnoe-pravo-rossiyskie-mediki-predrekli-kollaps-zdravoohraneniya-iz-za-zakona-ob-otrabotke-posle-medvuzov/33597969.html).