More than a third of Russians—35%—confess that they routinely cut costs when paying for medical services. At the same time, many see analytics as the priciest part of healthcare, with 41% of respondents labeling it as the most expensive service in a survey conducted by the Budu online health management platform during the market launch of medical services.
Socialbites.ca has reviewed these findings to provide a clear picture of the financial pressures families face in Russia and the implications for health-seeking behavior.
According to the data, 63% of participants believe that drug prices for a family are markedly higher than they expected. About one in three patients spent between 30,000 and 50,000 rubles on medical costs in the previous year. Another 29% reported expenditures in the 50,000 to 100,000 ruble range. At the same time, 37% of Russians had to cut back on visits to doctors to save money, and roughly a quarter even borrowed funds to cover healthcare needs.
Testing emerged as the most expensive category for 41% of respondents. More than a quarter—26%—underwent various tests at regular intervals, with some doing so every six months and 17% every two to three months. For 23%, the average bill for a single test exceeded 5,000 rubles, while last year 17% managed to keep testing costs around 20,000 rubles overall.
The study also found that cost pressures pushed some people toward self-medication, with about a quarter increasing self-care due to the high price of paid medical services. Meanwhile, 22% started visiting clinics and laboratories that offered discounts and bonuses on tests. Jeyhun Rakhmetov, the CEO of Budu medtech, noted that a large share of respondents—roughly 80%—would visit doctors more often and undergo examinations if prices were lower, underscoring how price sensitivity shapes healthcare utilization. (citation: Budu medtech study)
Earlier reports highlighted a broader willingness among Russians to adjust their employment situation in pursuit of improved social benefits, signaling a priority shift toward more comprehensive health coverage in the workforce. (citation: Budu medtech study)