In Russia, the medical commission has been simplified for those who wish to serve under a contract

The Government of Russia introduced a simplified medical examination procedure for those wishing to serve in the army under contract. This is reported by “Interfax” with reference to the decree, the text of which is available to the editors.

Instead of a two-stage medical examination, only one stage will be left. If earlier those wishing to conclude a contract first passed a military medical commission at the military enlistment office of the municipal formation at their place of residence, and then a final examination at the military enlistment office of the regional level, now only the first part will be sufficient. On the direction of local military enlistment centers or selection points, future contractors will undergo a commission in state medical institutions. The doctors of military enlistment centers will make a decision on eligibility within five days from the moment of receiving the documents.

The resolution should simplify and speed up the process of accepting volunteers for contract service.

In December of last year, the Ministry of Defense of Russia made a proposal to relax health restrictions for both emergency and contract military service. The document, published on the portal of normative legal acts, did not specify specific measures, but proposed amendments to the Provisions on Military Medical Examination, which lists the criteria that determine the eligibility categories of a conscript or a contract worker. A member of the State Duma’s defense committee, Lieutenant General Viktor Sobolev, said that the list of diseases that are not accepted for service will be shortened.

Earlier, in November, the Ministry of Defense prepared an order that provided for the reduction of the terms of return of soldiers to the front after injury and treatment.

The servicemen themselves and human rights organizations have repeatedly reported that medical commissions practice overestimating the fitness categories of servicemen, despite injuries and illnesses. Russian soldiers who were wounded during the hostilities in Ukraine complained that they were sent back to the military units unfit, and they had to go to court to receive the necessary certificates and payments.