How to check your health for free

What is prophylactic medical examination

Clinical examination is a set of measures that include a preventive medical examination and additional methods of examinations carried out to assess the state of health and carried out in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Despite the fact that some Russians are skeptical about prophylactic medical examinations, this is the only free way of early detection of diseases.

Since 2018, examinations have been focused primarily on the diagnosis of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Neither young people nor the elderly are insured against them, and such an examination helps to prevent the development of diseases or identify them at an early stage.

It is especially important that risk factors are checked: that is, signs that do not yet indicate the development of the disease, but predict that it may begin. These include high blood sugar, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and other abnormalities. If you correct these violations in time, take them under control, then the development of serious diseases can be avoided or at least greatly delayed.

Recently, an imbalance of cholesterol in the blood is increasingly common in the young population. This does not give any early symptoms, therefore, clinical examination helps in identifying these disorders. In addition, there are congenital and hereditary dyslipidemias (imbalance in blood cholesterol). At the first stage, it is possible to identify an increase in total cholesterol, then examine its fractions and prescribe treatment.

Kenan Agayev general practitioner “Polis. Euromed Group"

How to undergo medical examination

The procedure for undergoing medical examination and the research that it includes is spelled out in the Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated October 26, 2017 No. 869n.

There are rules and deadlines here. The first clinical examination for adults is available at the age of 21, then every 3 years. An annual set of examinations is provided for children under 17, war veterans and disabled people.

In those age periods that do not fall under the prophylactic medical examination, you can undergo a preventive examination - once every 2 years.

In 2019, it will be the turn to go for medical examination for those who were born in the following years: 1920, 1923, 1926, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1941, 1944, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998th. It doesn't matter what month your birthday is: even if you turn 45 only in December 2019, you can go for free examinations right now.

Medical examination is carried out in the clinic to which you are attached. You can get all the necessary information at the reception, in the office of medical prevention or from your local general practitioner. When you go with you, you must have a passport and a compulsory medical insurance policy.

What procedures are available in 2019

For each age group, a set of tests and examinations has been selected that is most likely to help detect serious diseases.

A complete list of procedures carried out as part of the first stage of clinical examination at certain age periods can be found in Appendix No. 1 to Order 869n.

Here is a list of important studies that are available in 2019 for people of different ages.

Mammography. For women 39–48 years old - every three years, 51–79 years old - every two years.
Analysis of feces for occult blood with a sensitive immunochemical method (this analysis allows you to detect intestinal cancer as early as possible). For men and women 49–73 years old - every two years.
Pap test, that is, examination of a smear from the surface of the cervix (for early diagnosis of cervical cancer). For women 30-60 years old - every three years.
Determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood (for the diagnosis of prostate cancer). For men aged 45 and 51.
Measurement of intraocular pressure - from the age of 60.
Electrocardiography (ECG) is prescribed for men from 36 years old, women - from 45 years old.

You have the right to refuse any procedures and examinations during the clinical examination if you wish. This will not deprive you of the right to other consultations and analyzes. Today our legislation does not establish any sanctions for those who miss the prophylactic medical examination.

If at the first stage of the complex of examinations the doctor suspects some diseases, then he will send you to the second stage. It may include the following procedures:

Duplex scanning of the brachiocephalic arteries. This is an expensive study of the main arteries that supply blood to our brains. It is prescribed for men over 45 and women over 55 if they have three risk factors at the same time: high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as overweight. It is determined by the doctor during the examination, measuring the height, weight and waist circumference.
Colonoscopy. This bowel exam is done when colorectal cancer is suspected - usually if there is a hereditary predisposition and / or occult blood is found in stool tests.
Consultations of additional specialized specialists and referral for additional analyzes and examinations according to indications.

What examinations have ceased to be included in the clinical examination

Since 2018, general and biochemical blood tests, general urinalysis and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity have been canceled.

These studies were dropped due to their low information content and lack of scientific evidence of benefits. General and biochemical blood tests reflect a large number of changes that can occur in a person very often and are not necessarily associated with serious diseases. Ultrasound of the abdominal organs was removed due to the fact that it detects cancer only at the third or fourth stage, and this, unfortunately, does little to prolong the patient's life.

How is the passage of medical examination regulated by the Labor Code

For most employed people, the main problem with undergoing medical examination is that you need to take time off from work: it takes place during working hours. Therefore, not everyone who is eligible for this service actually receives it.

In 2018, Federal Law No. 353-FZ "On Amendments to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation" was adopted, which supplemented the Labor Code with Article No. 185.1. According to this article, once every three years, one day off from work is allocated to undergo medical examination. It will be paid in the amount of average earnings.

With the new amendment, people will become more active in routine examinations. It will also help diagnose diseases at an early stage more often.

Additional options are provided for retirees and those who are no more than five years away from retirement. They will be able to take not one, but two paid working days to undergo medical examination, and every year.

To take advantage of the exemption, employees will need to submit a written application. In this case, the day or days of the medical examination will be determined by agreement between the employee and the employer.

Is there liability for refusal to grant such a day? A special rule has not been established, however, for such a violation, the employer may be held liable under article 5.27 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation and a fine may be imposed: for an official - from 1,000 to 5,000 rubles, for a legal entity - from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles.