Beneficiaries in Nizhny Novgorod were informed about the risks of refusing free medications.

      04 September 2025 07:00

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      Society: Patients with federal beneficiary status are advised not to refuse free medicines in favor of monetary compensation. The regional Ministry of Health emphasized that if health deteriorates, it can be extremely difficult to purchase expensive drugs independently.

      The department reminded that the right to receive the set of social services (NSU), which includes free medications, is granted to recipients of the monthly cash payment. This includes, in particular, people with disabilities of all groups, including children, participants and veterans of the Great Patriotic War and military operations, including participants in the special military operation, residents of besieged Leningrad, besieged Sevastopol and Stalingrad, as well as citizens affected by the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident and persons equated to them.

      Each beneficiary may choose the form of assistance themselves — in kind or as a cash equivalent. The decision can be changed only once a year — until October 1. The selected option will be valid from January 1 to December 31 of the following year.

      As explained by the regional Ministry of Health, an application to choose the form of support can be submitted in person at a branch of the Social Fund of Russia or online through the Gosuslugi portal.

      Deputy Chief Physician for Clinical and Expert Work at Children's City Polyclinic No. 19, Svetlana Martynova, noted that many patients initially choose monetary compensation without considering possible changes in their health. According to her, illnesses can progress, and then there arises a need for costly treatment for which the compensation amounts may not be sufficient. She urged patients to check their documents and, if necessary, restore their ability to receive medicines for free.

      The ministry added that patients receiving medicines under the benefit are under constant medical supervision, since obtaining a prescription requires regular medical examinations. This, experts say, is another argument in favor of choosing the in-kind form of assistance.

      Earlier it was reported that the cost of the set of social services for 2025 is 1,728.46 rubles per month. Of these, 1,331.3 rubles are allocated to drug provision; 205.95 rubles to sanatorium-resort treatment; 191.21 rubles to transportation costs to and from the place of treatment.

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