Roszdravnadzor has floated a plan that starting September 1 this year, Russian hospitals and clinics might be allowed to repair medical equipment using non-original spare parts. This proposal was reported by Kommersant and echoed by several industry observers who track regulatory shifts in the health sector.
The suggestion extends beyond repairs to include the possibility of servicing individual components. In practice, this could expand the options available to medical facilities, especially when original parts are difficult to obtain. The idea is to create a practical pathway for ongoing operation when upstream supply chains are stressed, a circumstance many clinics are already facing.
Sources indicate that the order appears in regulatory drafts on the legislation portal, suggesting that the proposal is moving through formal review channels within the government and the health administration. If adopted, it would mark a notable shift in how equipment maintenance is handled in the national health system.
Advocates say the approach could help medical institutions manage equipment maintenance more reliably when access to original components is constrained by broader sanctions on the country’s suppliers. The emphasis is on ensuring continuity of care and minimizing downtime for critical devices, which can directly affect patient outcomes and hospital operations.
Industry data provided by MEDITEX show that the share of domestic manufacturers in the medical equipment market remains relatively modest, estimated at around 20 to 30 percent. This context helps explain why the regulatory proposal focuses on expanding repair capabilities with non-original parts, as a practical means to support facility level operations during supply disruptions and to mitigate shortages that could otherwise hamper clinical services.
Earlier announcements from the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation stated that there was no plan to reduce the supply of medicines to hospitals, a clarification aimed at addressing concerns about medication availability during times of broader regulatory and logistical changes. The ministry’s position underscores the separation between equipment maintenance policies and the wider pharmaceutical supply chain, even as both areas influence hospital readiness and patient access to care.