Prevention
Prevention
The main article in this section explains how to get the most out of a preventive medical examination and the extended check-up known in Russia as dispanserizatsiya. These rules apply in Russia; other countries organise screening differently. The outcome: you know whether you are due a check-up this year, you have booked it, agreed time off with your employer and come to the doctor with questions instead of just ticking a box. Below is a table of general WHO guidelines for adults.
A check-up is useful not as a tick in your records but as a conversation with your doctor about the results. Prepare your questions in advance.
Before you start
- OMS insurance policy and passport
- The name of the clinic you are registered with
- A list of the medicines and supplements you take
- Results of previous tests and discharge summaries, if you have them
- Questions for the doctor, written on paper or on your phone
Find out what you are entitled to this year
In Russia the preventive medical examination can be done every year. The extended check-up (dispanserizatsiya) is offered once every three years from age 18 to 39, and every year from age 40. The procedure is set by the Russian Ministry of Health.
If you are 40 or older, you are entitled to the extended check-up every year, not once every three years.
Check your clinic registration
The preventive examination and the extended check-up are free under the OMS policy at the clinic you are registered with. If you have moved or are not sure, check your registration at the clinic's reception.
After moving to a different area, register with a clinic near your new address first, then book.
Arrange time off with your employer
Under Article 185.1 of the Labour Code of the Russian Federation, an employee is entitled to one working day off for a check-up once every three years, keeping their job and pay. Employees approaching retirement age and pensioners get two working days every year. The day is granted on written request, and the date is agreed with the employer.
Submit your request in advance and suggest a date that suits both you and your colleagues.
Book an appointment
You can book at the clinic or through Gosuslugi, Russia's public services portal, if your region supports it.
If online booking for the check-up is not available, call the clinic reception or its prevention office.
Ask what tests are included and how to prepare
The exact set of tests depends on your age and sex. Ask a health worker what your check-up includes and whether you need to prepare for any tests.
Ask when you book, so you don't have to reschedule because you prepared the wrong way.
Be honest about yourself
Your doctor needs to know about your symptoms, medicines, supplements, habits and illnesses in your close family. This helps them see what to pay attention to.
Mention even things that seem minor — for example, that you have not had your blood pressure measured for a long time.
Discuss the results
Ask what the results mean, whether you need to do anything next and when to come back. If something is unclear, ask again.
The question "Which of these needs action and which is just for information?" helps make sense of the forms.
Keep the documents and plan the next one
Keep the doctor's report and your results: they will be useful at your next appointment. Put a reminder in your calendar for when your next examination or check-up is due.
Take a photo of the report and keep it with your previous medical records.
Common mistakes
- Putting off a check-up because "nothing hurts": many important things, such as high blood pressure, may go unnoticed
- Not telling the doctor about supplements and over-the-counter medicines
- Leaving with your results without discussing them with the doctor
- Not arranging a day off and doing the tests in bits and pieces
- Interpreting a lab report yourself using tables from the internet
Alternatives
- If you are short of time, start with the preventive medical examination and ask whether some tests can be done at convenient hours
- If you are not registered with a clinic, register under your OMS policy first, then book
- If you live abroad, find out how preventive check-ups work in your country of residence and keep your results to show a doctor later
- If you are unsure whether you are due a check-up this year, ask your local general practitioner
Outcome checklist
- You know whether you are due a check-up this year
- Clinic registration has been checked
- Your request for a day off has been agreed with your employer
- An appointment has been booked at the clinic or through Gosuslugi
- A list of medicines, supplements and questions for the doctor is ready
- Results discussed, documents saved, next visit in the calendar
WHO guidelines for adults
| What | Guideline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic activity (ages 18–64) | 150–300 minutes of moderate or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity a week, or an equivalent combination | WHO, Guidelines on Physical Activity (2020) |
| Muscle-strengthening exercise | Major muscle groups — 2 or more days a week | WHO, Guidelines on Physical Activity (2020) |
| Time spent sitting | Limit it; some activity is better than none | WHO, Guidelines on Physical Activity (2020) |
| Salt | Less than 5 g a day | WHO, Healthy diet |
| Free sugars | Less than 10% of daily energy intake; further benefit below 5% | WHO, Healthy diet |
| Fruit and vegetables | At least 400 g a day; potatoes and other starchy roots do not count | WHO, Healthy diet |
| Fat | No more than 30% of energy; saturated fat below 10%, trans fat below 1% | WHO, Healthy diet |
| Alcohol | There is no level of consumption that is safe for health | WHO Regional Office for Europe, The Lancet Public Health (2023) |
| Blood pressure | Hypertension — if ≥140/90 mmHg on two different days both times; there may be no symptoms, so it is important to measure it | WHO, Hypertension |
| Handwashing | With soap — 40–60 seconds for the whole procedure; with hand rub — 20–30 seconds | WHO, Hand hygiene |
Related sections
- Questions for your doctor
What to ask your doctor and who to see first.
- Topics and conditions
A map of the reference by topic: heart and circulation, nutrition, sleep and stress, infections and hygiene. Plus the article catalogue.
- Medical glossary
Plain-language definitions of terms from research, prevention, lab tests and medicine leaflets.
Sources
- Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Procedure for the preventive medical examination and dispanserizatsiya (health check-up)
- Labour Code of the Russian Federation (Art. 185.1)
- WHO. Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour (2020)
- WHO. Healthy diet: fact sheet
- WHO Regional Office for Europe. Statement on alcohol, The Lancet Public Health (January 2023)
- WHO. Hypertension: fact sheet
- WHO. Guidelines on Hand Hygiene
Information is current as of the preparation date. The Russian check-up schedule, recommendations from health organisations and medicine registration rules may change — check current arrangements with your clinic and official sources.