Russia is reviewing the financing of medical salaries: labor shortages in the regions remain a serious problem.
In Russia, the plans to reform the compensation system for medical workers have changed. According to published reports, 510 billion rubles accumulated since 2021 to equalize the regional salaries of doctors are planned to be used for other budgetary expenses. At the same time, the transition to a uniform sectoral salary system was postponed, and the issue of differences in the incomes of medical specialists remains relevant.
According to the data provided, the Russian health services lack about 23 thousand doctors and 63 thousand nurses. In some institutions, specialists are forced to combine positions and work at a rate of 2-2.5 times, and the difference in salary for similar work between regions can reach 3-4 times. This situation complicates the attraction of new employees and the retention of the existing medical staff.
Special attention is drawn to the uneven distribution of medical specialists among the regions of Russia. The most noticeable difficulties are observed in Kurgan, Kemerovo, Pskov, Smolensk and Krasnodar Territory regions.
In the Kurgan region, the supply is about 31.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants, in the Kamerovo region - 43.2 doctors. In Kuzbass, the shortage of medical personnel is estimated at almost 29%. In the Pskov region, a significant number of unfulfilled vacancies are reported, and in the Krasnodar Territory, there remains a high workload on working specialists.
Another factor remains health care funding and differences in regional capabilities. Initially, the reform included reducing the gap between doctors' salaries and creating more uniform salary conditions. The change in the budget plans means that the issue of increasing revenues and reducing the shortage of personnel remains open.
As a result, the salary reform funding review is taking place against the backdrop of a continuing shortage of medical workers.