Reform of the medical staff: which positions will disappear from September 1 and what will replace them

      On August 10, 2026, at 16:17 Society From September 1, 2026, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation will revise the nomenclature of medical positions, excluding 16 positions and adding a number of new ones. One of the main goals of this initiative is to optimize the structure of medical personnel and eliminate excessive duplication of functions.

      Which positions will be abolished?

      According to the order of the Ministry of Health of Russia dated June 30, 2026, No. 434n, which was registered with the Ministry of Justice on July 20 of the same year, the following positions will disappear from the nomenclature starting September 1, 2026:

      - obstetrician-gynecologist of the workshop medical section;

      - diabetologist;

      - mycologist;

      - laboratory assistant;

      - laboratory mycologist;

      - prosthetist;

      - city pediatrician;

      - adolescent district psychiatrist;

      - district psychiatrist-narcologist;

      - sexologist;

      - audiologist-prosthetist;

      - adolescent therapist;

      - dentist.

      For the positions of "bacteriologist," "virologist," and "parasitologist," a transitional period is provided, which will last until September 2028.

      Which positions will be introduced

      At the same time, the order introduces new positions:

      - doctor of healthy longevity medicine;

      - doctor of physical and rehabilitation medicine;

      - doctor - medical microbiologist;

      - medical speech therapist;

      - medical psychologist;

      - neuropsychologist;

      - specialist in physical rehabilitation;

      - specialist in occupational rehabilitation;

      - nutritionist;

      - nurse in medical rehabilitation;

      - specialist in providing medical assistance to students.

      Impact on the workload of medical workers

      Expert Marina Pronina, candidate of legal sciences and senior lecturer at the law faculty of the Financial University under the Government of Russia, noted in an interview with 360.ru that the order includes measures to prevent an increase in the workload of the remaining medical workers. The exclusion of job titles is related to their non-use or their non-compliance with federal state educational standards. The Federal State Educational Standards (FSES) define the name of the profession or qualification, while positions define functionality.

      If necessary, additional agreements on the renaming of positions will be concluded. For example, a dentist will become a stomatologist. Each medical institution will address the issues of redistributing functionality and its automation individually, but within the framework of current legislation. Pronina emphasized that the changes will positively affect the quality of medical care. Nutritionists will now be required to have medical education and a license, and their services will be available in municipal clinics.

      Pronina also pointed out that retraining or transferring programs for employees whose positions are being excluded will be developed and financed by employers.

      How the reform will affect the accessibility of medical care

      Changes in the nomenclature are aimed at increasing the accessibility and quality of certain types of medical services. Some specialists, such as nutritionists and neuropsychologists, could previously work without a license, although their activities required medical education and responsibility. Starting September 1, 2026, the situation will change: a license will be required to provide nutritionist services. The title of the position will also be taken into account: "medical psychologist" is subject to licensing, while "psychologist" is not.

      Why changes in the nomenclature are needed

      The goal of the reform is to align job titles with educational programs. If there is no specialty in the FSES, then there should not be a corresponding position. This will simplify the verification of qualifications and the training of personnel.

      Duplicating positions, such as diabetologist and endocrinologist, will be merged, and the elimination of "excess" positions will help patients understand which specialist to contact. Outdated positions, such as "city pediatrician" or "workshop physician," are no longer relevant.

      The exclusion of certain positions is aimed at raising the requirements for specialists. For example, the functions of a dentist are now performed only by a doctor with higher education.

      New positions, such as nutritionist and medical psychologist, are included in the healthcare system. This will ensure regulation of their activities through licensing and control. Previously, such services were often provided without medical education and outside the compulsory medical insurance system.

      For medical organizations, it is important that employees correspond to the approved nomenclature. The exclusion of a position from the list prohibits its inclusion in the staff and the opening of new vacancies, which helps to comply with licensing requirements. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+