Russian healthcare crisis deepens as ambulance delays mount

The Russian healthcare system is nearing collapse due to budget cuts and a shortage of personnel. In many regions, the response time for ambulances to reach patients has significantly increased. In some areas, like Nizhny Novgorod, half of the calls are not attended to promptly, affecting about 30 people daily. "This situation reflects the state of the entire country", notes Andrei Konoval, co-chair of the trade union, as quoted by the "Moscow Times".

The situation is dire throughout Russia. In Bryansk, the wait time for an ambulance can be up to 10 hours. This delay affected a person suffering from high blood pressure and a heart condition. The emergency call was made to medics before 2 p.m. and was handled before 10 p.m. local time.

In Veliky Novgorod, an ambulance was called for an aggressive individual, resulting in a six-hour wait. A patient experiencing acute pain and limb swelling waited an additional two hours. For a man who was suffocating, assistance arrived after 1.5 hours, and for someone who was beaten and had a bleeding head, it took 3 hours.

In the St. Petersburg area, the wait to connect with a dispatcher can be up to an hour. The wait for help can extend up to 4 hours. In Stavropol, only one vehicle operates on the line instead of the required four. In the Nizhny Novgorod region, as of October 1, 2024, the employment rate was less than 60 percent. Across Russia, there is a shortage of over 23,000 doctors and 63,000 mid-level staff members.

According to the "Moscow Times," the war in Ukraine has led to severe cuts in the health budget, worsening the staffing crisis. Another issue is the massive recruitment of workers for the military.