Package of bills tightening medical examinations for migrants passes first reading

The State Duma approved at first reading bills tightening the requirements for medical examinations of foreign nationals for HIV, narcotic drugs, and infectious diseases that pose a danger to others.

They propose:

➖ introducing a single deadline for foreign nationals to undergo medical examinations: no later than 30 days after entering the Russian Federation, and annually thereafter.

➖ tightening administrative liability for evading medical examinations.

➖ all medical conclusions issued following medical examinations will be provided only in electronic form, with a qualified enhanced electronic signature. They must be entered into the Unified State Health Information System (EGISZ) within 24 hours. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will have permanent access to this information in EGISZ. Rospotrebnadzor will have access only to medical conclusions concerning HIV-positive foreign nationals, drug addicts, and carriers of infectious diseases (this agency issues conclusions that a person’s stay in the Russian Federation is undesirable).

➖ medical organizations that conduct examinations (the region determines the list) may not delegate to third parties the right to conduct medical examinations or prepare/post medical conclusions in EGISZ.

➖ ongoing monitoring of the health of foreign nationals. If a foreign national starts using drugs or contracts HIV or a dangerous infectious disease in the period between medical examinations, this will come to light, for example, while they are receiving medical care or during a medical examination.

➖ a new Article 235.2 will be added to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, establishing liability for forging and circulating fake official documents certifying the absence of diseases that pose a danger to others. Forging, selling, issuing, acquiring, and using such a document will be punishable by up to 8 years in prison and multimillion-ruble fines.

These measures will prevent people capable of harming the health of Russians by spreading dangerous diseases from remaining in the country. 
The new measures will also make it possible to identify drug users in a timely manner and prevent them from staying in the country.