Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree that shifts the focus of oversight in social institutions from routine planned checks to preventive visits beginning in 2024. The move marks a strategic change in how authorities monitor compliance across social care facilities, health services, and child nutrition programs, with an aim to streamline oversight while maintaining safety and quality standards.
The communicated directive states that in 2024 preventive visits will be conducted in health facilities, social service organizations, and organizations responsible for children’s meals, replacing the traditional model of planned inspections. This shift is described as a reduction of administrative load for institutions and officials alike, signaling a more proactive approach to safeguarding children and vulnerable groups within the system.
Officials noted that preventive visits previously covered state and municipal schools and kindergartens, and the new framework extends to clinics, hospitals, and orphanages assessed as high or extreme risk. By broadening the scope, the government intends to align oversight practices with contemporary risk assessments and ensure that all critical facilities undergo timely review, with the potential to address violations on the spot during a one-day visit.
Each preventive visit is designed as a compact, one-day process during which authorities may issue orders aimed at correcting identified violations. The streamlined format seeks to deliver faster remediation, reduce red tape, and preserve a steady cadence of accountability across the system, including institutions that serve children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs.
The topic gained prominence during a forum convened by the Commissioner for the Rights of the Child in November, where discussions centered on preventing social orphanhood and strengthening protective measures for dependent minors. The dialogue underscored the importance of safeguarding children through proactive supervision and timely interventions that prevent maltreatment or neglect in care settings.
In related governance developments, officials have signaled a broader push toward efficiency by redefining top-level responsibilities and improving budgetary oversight, with a strategic aim to prevent deficits while maintaining essential public services. The government emphasizes that the process is designed to support frontline institutions in meeting standards while offering clear, actionable guidance to administrators and care providers across the country.