Motherhood in Russia

In Russia motherhood is protected by the state. Special conditions, labour protection, material and moral support are provided to mothers to enable them to combine work and motherhood.

Protection of the health of mother and child is ensured by a wide network of women’s consultation centers and maternity homes providing every woman with qualified medical observation during pregnancy and hospital aid during childbirth.

Medical aid to children and teenagers is provided by polyclinics, dispensaries, hospitals, sanatoriums and other public health institutions.

The health of the infant directly depends on well-being of the mother. There are certain laws protecting pregnant women. It is prohibited to employ women on difficult and health-impairing jobs or in the night shift; to sent pregnant women on business trips. They are transferred to easier work with the preservation of average earnings. Women are given paid maternity leave before and after childbirth. Baby-

sitting mothers have the right to paid leave until the baby is 1 years old and the mother’s job is reserved for her 3 years after childbirth. When a child is ill the mother is given a sick-leave certificate to care for her child. Such payment is established until the child is 14 years.

Practical training

Higher medical educational establishments practise the system of day-time and evening instruction. Medicine is taught largerly through lectures, practical classes, seminars and laboratory work, the attendance of which is compulsory. Besides theoretical knowledge in the treatment and care of the patient a medical student must acquire (=gain) practical skills in his field of Knowledgs. The student does thorough (=careful) practical training in his future profession when he is sent to work at different hospitals, clinics and polyclinics. There he is put into situations where he must apply his Knowledge and display initiative.

Students spend their summers training in practical settings. After the third year all students work as nurses in the clinical wards. There they acquire nursing skills that are giving injections, enemas, and so on and the skill to communicate with patients and encourage their trust. These guarantes successful therapeutic relationships, even if one cannot offer patients a medical cure. After the fourth year students work as district physicians assistants in outpatient clinics. After the fifth year, students practice as physicians, under supervision, for 6 weeks in district hospitals of the region.

This system of practical training including specialization in the chosen field for the last two years (subinternship and internship) must help our medical students learn to carry out medical procedures, examine a patient, diagnose different diseases, carry out laboratory analyses and treat people.

Public health in russia

In Russia a man's right to health protection is constitutionally guaranteed. This right must be ensured by free qualified medical care provided by state health institutions by extension of the network of therapeutic and health-building institutions by the development and improvement of safety engineering and hygiene in industry.

Citizens in Russia are given medical aid in polyclinics, hospitals, dispensaries and other medical and disease-preventive institutions. During their illness causing temporary disability, citizens are given a sick-leave to get payment. If a man falls ill or needs a medical certificate he may go to the local polyclinics to consult any specialist. Being in a bad condition or having a high temperature he may ring up his local polyclinics and call in a district doctor to visit him at home.

We have a district-territorial system of medical service in our country. Every person has his own district doctor. The territory serviced by one district pediatrician has population of about 700-800 children.

A large part of those who go to the polyclinics and out-patient departments are ill with acute respiratory diseases which flare up mainly in autumn and winter,

Any person being in a had conditions may also ring up 03 number and call in an ambulans doctor who will give the person emergency aid or take him to a hospital.

No more than 60% of the population go to the doctor during the year that is every one in two feels there is no need for medical help. As a result district doctors focus their attention on elderly people, or people who suffer from chronic diseases and those who need constant observation.

In 1984 regular medical check-ups were introduced and they were available to every one in our country. At least once a year everyone - even if he or she seemed healthy - underwent a preventive examinations.