The State Duma announced the new powers of paramedics from September 1.

In Russia, from September 1, 2026, paramedics will be able to provide primary pre-medical care in the field of psychiatry and narcology if there is no relevant specialist in the staff of the medical organization. This was announced on July 2 by Yulia Drozhzhina, a member of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection.

The new standards are fixed in the order of medical care, approved by the order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. According to the parliamentarian, the changes are aimed at increasing the availability of medical services, especially in small towns and regions with a shortage of personnel.

"On September 1, 2026, a new procedure for providing medical care in the field of psychiatry-narcology, approved by the order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, comes into force. One of the important changes concerns the availability of care: if a medical organization does not have a psychiatrist-narcologist, a paramedic can provide primary pre—medical care," Drozhzhina explained in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The deputy clarified that the work of a paramedic in such cases will not be completely autonomous. All actions of a mid-level medical professional must be coordinated with the doctor of the dispensary department of a drug treatment hospital or the corresponding dispensary.

In addition, for the first time, a new order from the relevant ministry regulates in detail the activities of medical examination rooms and departments for intoxication. The document introduces uniform requirements for their staffing, technical equipment and organization of processes.

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Yuri Grigoriev, a State Duma deputy from the Fair Russia party, said on June 21 that Russian doctors should receive the status of civil servants, providing them with appropriate social and labor guarantees. According to the parliamentarian, such a measure will secure additional support measures for medical workers and ensure a higher level of remuneration.