The State Duma announced changes in the order of psychiatric examination

Since March 1, 2026, updated requirements for mandatory psychiatric examinations for representatives of a number of professions will begin to apply. This was announced on February 22 by Yaroslav Nilov, head of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs.

"The order of the Ministry of Health, which comes into force on March 1, 2026, specifies that the examination of an employee should be carried out by a commission of psychiatrists, and not by one specialist. The procedure is also clearly established: if signs of a mental disorder are detected during a mandatory periodic medical examination, the employer is obliged to send an employee for such an examination," Nilov told RIA Novosti.

According to him, the innovations are aimed at streamlining the procedure, increasing its objectivity through a collegial decision of the commission and clearly regulating the interaction between the systems of general medical and psychiatric examinations at enterprises.

New rules of psychiatric examination: what will change for employees in 2026

Psychiatric examination will be required only if there are signs of illness.

Associate Professor of the Department of Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Clinical Psychology and Social Work of Pirogov University, Candidate of Medical Sciences Maria Solovyova announced on January 12 that from March 1, 2026, employers in Russia will be able to send employees for psychiatric examination. It is noted that this will allow the employer to respond to possible changes in the employee's mental health.

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