Medical Service Day of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

Doctors in uniform treat both personnel of internal affairs bodies and other law enforcement agencies, as well as their families. About 2.3 million people are served in departmental clinics and hospitals every year. More than 5.5 thousand employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs visit sanatorium-resort institutions, where they undergo health improvement and rehabilitation under the guidance of qualified specialists. Professionals also participate in the activities of military medical commissions, which are attended by candidates applying for admission to work in the internal affairs bodies. On October 12, doctors in uniform are congratulated on the Day of Medical Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Law enforcement officers in clinics and health resorts are served by doctors of the highest category, doctors and candidates of science, and other qualified personnel. Doctors annually conduct up to 15 million patient visits, including visiting patients at home. Treatment, medical examination and disease prevention for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were carried out without interruption even during a surge in coronavirus infection, which created a serious burden on the healthcare system. For these and other merits, almost 200 doctors were awarded the title “Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation.” The history of departmental medicine goes back hundreds of years. It received great attention from the Ministry of Internal Affairs back in the days of Tsarist Russia. After the Bolsheviks came to power, representatives of law enforcement agencies received their own clinics, hospitals and sanatoriums in 1921. The basis for this was Order No. 314/s issued on October 12 on the organization of emergency rooms for police officers, because their presence is “...a necessary condition for the proper organization of the police and its successful further development.” This date was chosen to celebrate the Day of the Medical Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the capital, a similar structure for providing medical care to police personnel, prevention and sanitary and hygienic measures appeared in August 1942. Then, by order No. 001767 of the NKVD of the USSR, a clinic for internal affairs officers and paramilitary fire protection appeared in Moscow. Today, departmental healthcare in Russia is a holistic and self-sufficient system of medical and sanitary provision, which allows us to solve strategic and tactical tasks assigned to doctors in uniform. Thousands of cardiologists, surgeons, ophthalmologists and doctors of other specialties work in the clinical hospitals of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The old guard, veterans of the service, pass on their experience to young doctors, sharing their acquired skills and abilities. The professional holiday, which is celebrated on October 12, is called upon to pay tribute to the important and responsible work of doctors. The celebration appeared in the calendar of memorable dates in 2007. The order on its establishment was signed by the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Since then, colleagues, relatives and friends have annually congratulated doctors in uniform on Medical Service Day.