There are lots of compelling reasons to visit Russia. Going to Russia can be the trip of a lifetime, and you definitely shouldn’t pass up going just because you might find some parts of it unpleasant or annoying. However, just like on any other trip to a new country, serious problems can occur and you should be prepared for that possibility. Here’s what to do if you end up in a Russian hospital….

Conditions

As a rule, unfortunately, it’s best to stay out of Russian hospitals.

Russian hospitals are largely underfunded, understaffed, and in a rather dire state regarding food, care and even sometimes cleanliness. The facilities are old and poorly maintained. However it can happen that you get into an accident (especially, by the way, if you rent a car) or through some other unforeseen circumstance have to go to the hospital, in which case you should definitely go – they’re not so bad that I would advise you to just skip them. You will still get decent care, it just won’t be as good as elsewhere in Europe.

Procedure

If you are involved in an accident or have a medical emergency, do not panic. Russia’s medical emergency response system is not the greatest but it does work. Depending on the state you are in

The emergency number (to call an ambulance) is 112 or 03. The bigger cities will of course tend to have much better, and better-monitored, hospitals, so if you’re near Moscow or St. Petersburg, definitely try to find a hospital within city limits that you can go to.

Usually there is a waiting-room emergency procedure, unless of course you’ve been brought in by an ambulance, in which case you are usually taken directly to a bed.

You will likely have to pay upfront for whatever service you receive, regardless of the type of insurance you have at home, but luckily the services at Russian hospitals tend to be inexpensive by North American standards. British citizens can use their NHS insurance, which is valid in Russia due to an international agreement.

A word of caution: Russian doctors tend to over-recommend extensive surgeries and procedures. If you’re in a non-critical state and think the doctor is not correct in suggesting a procedure, keep in mind that you can always refuse and walk away, or ask for a milder alternative.

Visiting a Doctor

If you’re sick but not in critical condition, try to avoid going to the emergency room at a Russian hospital if you can. If you can, and can afford it, try to find an international/expat medical center or a private clinic – these will usually come up on a Google search in English for “medical center” + the name of the city you are in. For example, the European Medical Center in Moscow is quite good. These tend to have much better doctors and conditions. If you can’t find one, just look for a nearby “??????????? ?????” (medical center in Russian).

Pharmacies in Russia are marked in green with an equal-length-handed cross. You will usually need a prescription for most medicines, but you can buy here a lot of over-the-counter products not found in other countries, as long as you can explain to the pharmacist what you need.

Preventative measures

The best way to deal with a medical incident in Russia is to be well-prepared and to think ahead. Make sure you have good medical insurance so you can get reimbursement for any medical issues that you may have to deal with while in Russia. Make sure that you have all the medicine you need with you for your trip and take extras, since it may be difficult to procure in a Russian pharmacy. And of course, it will always help you if you learn some basic Russian phrases, and even more so if you learn to read the Cyrillic alphabet.