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Oncology Clinics Breathe a Sigh of Relief as Health Ministry Consider Delaying New Rules
In a potential game-changer for the Russian healthcare sector, the Ministry of Health is seeking to discuss postponing the implementation of strict bed fund requirements for oncology treatment centers. The move could save numerous private clinics from the brink of closure, as stated by market representatives approached by the ministry.
The contentious rule, established in 2021 and implemented since early 2022, has tightened the standards for oncology treatment facilities in aspects like equipment and structural units. For instance, an oncology chemotherapy department is mandated to have a minimum of 20 beds (a requirement that previously didn't exist) and a radiotherapy department must have five beds per machine. The surgical department should offer between 25 to 50 beds and can be set up in a medical institution with at least 70 oncology beds.
The dramatic adjustments have raised eyebrows in certain corners of the industry, particularly from experts associated with the National Association of Managers in the Healthcare Sector (NAUZ). They fear that the implementation of the Ministry of Health's order may shut the doors of hospitals in small towns and private clinics that lack adequate bed capacity.
In an effort to prompt a change, NAUZ penned a letter to the Ministry of Health in late April 2025, urging it to reconsider the bed fund requirements for medical organizations. Citing the challenging socio-economic conditions arising from the special military operation and sanctions, NAUZ stated that many private oncology organizations had purchased expensive equipment before 2022, the lifespan of which is mostly ten years. Faced with the prospect of ceasing oncology treatments, this equipment would essentially be lost.
Responding to NAUZ's plea, the Ministry of Health indicated its willingness to partly address the issue. A possible postponement of the implementation of bed fund requirements for oncology centers specializing in radiology, oncology, and radiotherapy, chemotherapy has been proposed until 2026.
The pending issue will be tackled during an update of departmental order No. 116n, which endorses the procedure for providing medical care to the adult population with oncological diseases. No definitive update timeline has been disclosed yet.
State Duma Urges Ministry of Health to Simplify Cancer Patient Registration for Treatment
diagnoses in 2023. In September 2024, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced that the one-year mortality rate for patients with oncological diseases had decreased by 18% over the past five years, and the proportion of patients with malignant tumors who have been on the registry for five years or more has surged by over 8%.
Chairman of NAUZ, Muslim Muslimgov, argues that the order directly affects the "service part," or in simpler terms, the accessibility of oncology treatment for the populace. Delayed implementation could provide respite to some residents accustomed to specific medical organizations and the doctors servicing them. On the flip side, Coordinating council head "Movement against cancer" Nikolai Drokov deems the requirements fair, asserting that a medical institution involved in oncology aid should offer at least 120 beds. He contends that lowering the requirements would only lead to more private clinics entering the oncology aid system, several of which he compares to beer kiosks, while qualified private clinics already comply with the established requirements.
Natalia Kostarnova
- In light of the ongoing challenges faced by private oncology clinics, a potential solution for medical-conditions like cancer could be the delay in the implementation of strict bed fund requirements, as proposed by the Ministry of Health, providing a chance for these clinics to adjust and continue offering science-based treatment for health-and-wellness.
- The proposed delay in the bed fund requirements for specialized oncology centers, such as those dealing with cancer treatment through radiology, oncology, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, could not only offer relief to existing clinics but also contribute to the overall improvement of medical-conditions management and health-and-wellness for the population.
