Members of the “A Just Russia – For Truth” faction, led by Sergey Mironov, have proposed a bill that would require every school to have a medical office staffed with a pediatrician or a paramedic. Experts have discussed the measures schools should take to maintain students’ health.
The proposed bill mandates the presence of a medical unit in every school, where a pediatrician or paramedic can provide emergency care to children in cases of poisoning, injuries, exacerbation of chronic diseases, and other ailments. It also includes provisions for the presence of a procedural room.
The document emphasizes the necessity of medical staff monitoring students during classes, as according to the Ministry of Health of Russia, only 26.7% of schoolchildren are considered completely healthy.
Sergey Mironov noted that currently, medical offices exist in 65% of schools, but this is insufficient. He also emphasized the importance of having medical staff present at schools on a regular basis.
This initiative became more relevant after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly, where he called for the renovation or establishment of medical offices in schools where they are necessary.
The authors of the bill calculated that out of 39.4 thousand schools, medical offices need to be equipped in 13.8 thousand. This would require allocating over 10.3 billion rubles for these purposes.
Previously, every school was required to have a medical office in accordance with the law on education and licensing. However, in 2015, the government proposed to abolish this norm, citing the possibility of students seeking medical care at children’s clinics.
Now, the State Duma is again discussing the issue of the need for medical services in schools and kindergartens. Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Irina Yarovaya has already proposed that the Ministry of Health establish unified standards and include the position of a school nurse in staffing regulations.
Nevertheless, schools are obligated to care for children’s health regardless of the presence of a medical office. According to the law on education, they need to optimize the academic workload, promote a healthy lifestyle, provide opportunities for students to engage in sports, and combat smoking and alcohol consumption.
Photo: unsplash.com