What should a foreigner do if he gets sick in Russia?
Malaise, fever, injuries – they are impossible to predict. But, you can prepare in advance for how to act in such cases.
A doctor urgently!
According to current Russian legislation, any foreigner can receive the necessary medical care, regardless of citizenship, insurance or the length of stay in Russia.
An ambulance is provided for sudden acute diseases and exacerbation of chronic diseases, accidents, injuries and poisonings – in general, in all cases when medical intervention is needed as quickly as possible.
In an emergency, if you speak Russian, to call an ambulance, you need to call 103 from any phone.
And if you need the help of an operator who speaks foreign languages, then call 112. You will need to explain what happened, describe the symptoms, give the full name and age of the victim, as well as the address or landmarks where you need to call a medical team. Calling an ambulance is free of charge.
Insurance
Foreigners living and working in Russia can receive free medical care under compulsory medical insurance. To do this, you need to get a compulsory medical insurance policy. Foreign citizens receive it in person at multifunctional centers for state and municipal services (MFC) or insurance companies.
You will need a passport, a residence permit or a temporary residence permit and, if available, a ‘SNILS’ (account number in the compulsory insurance system). On the Unified Portal of State Services (https://gosuslugi.ru/600770/1/form), at an insurance company or in person at the ‘MFC’ (‘Multi-functional center’), you can choose a clinic, submit an application and register with it. The entire procedure takes about a week.
With the compulsory medical insurance policy, you can also request a doctor to visit you at home: by calling 112 or there is a special section via the mobile application of the emergency call system.
If you are in Moscow, you can also use the Unified Medical Information Service phone number 122 (only in Russian).
Foreigners who plan to spend a long time in Russia can purchase insurance themselves from any insurance company in the country. Such a policy will allow you to call a doctor to your home or get a specialist consultation, visit private and public clinics, etc.
