National Medical Research Centre for Rehabilitation and Balneology of the Ministry of Health of Russia and the National Association of Experts in Spa Treatment supported by "Expocentre" JSC on the platform of the International Scientific and Practical Forum "Russian Healthcare Week-2023" held a meeting of the profile commission on spa treatment of the Ministry of Health of Russia and the V Congress "Sanatorium and Spa Industry. Science. Results".

The keynote speech "Sanatorium and spa treatment - the reserve of the nation's health. Theory, Legislation, Practice" was delivered by Anatoly Fesyun, acting director of the National Medical Centre for Rehabilitation and Balneology of the Ministry of Health of Russia.

"Russia has at its disposal a truly unique natural and therapeutic resource base. There is no other place with such a number of spas, sanatoriums, and natural therapeutic factors. And these reserves should be used to reduce the mortality rate and increase the life expectancy of the nation. Sanatorium and spa treatment is an integral part of the general medical treatment system, which begins with a preventive medical examination. Since July 2023, every citizen who has undergone a medical check-up has an opportunity to obtain a sanatorium and spa certificate and book a sanatorium and spa voucher on the State Services web portal in their personal account," said acting director of the National Medical Research Centre for Rehabilitation and Balneology of the Ministry of Health of the Russia, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), associate professor, Anatoly Fesyun.

The scientific programme of the V Congress «Sanatorium and Spa Industry. Science. Results" was devoted to the issues of modern legislation in the sanatorium and spa industry, including Federal Law of 04.08.2023 No. 469-ФЗ, and to the issues of implementation of the main areas of the Strategy for the development of the sanatorium and spa complex of the Russian Federation.

”The Congress has been held once a year for the 5th time already. It is a great opportunity to bring together chief freelance experts in spa treatment, leading experts of the medical community, heads of state and private medical institutions on one platform. They discuss in the format of an open dialogue pressing issues of the organization of sanatorium and spa treatment, take outreach efforts to explain changes in the current legislation, present key achievements and developments, share experience in the implementation of successful projects", – noted Mikhail Nikitin, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Dr. Sci. (Economics), chief external expert in spa treatment of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, chief physician of "Vulan" sanatorium and spa complex.

The speakers were chief external expert in spa treatment of the Ministry of Health of Russia Mikhail Nikitin, deputy director for research and educational activities of National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology of the Ministry of Health of Russia Olga Yurova, deputy director general for sanatorium and spa treatment of "Federal Scientific and Clinical Centre for Medical Rehabilitation and Balneology" of FMBA of Russia Natalia Machula, chief physician of "Detskie Dyuny" Children's Sanatorium in St. Petersburg, chief external expert in spa treatment of St. Petersburg Healthcare Committee Olesya Morozova.

Also, on the platform of the International Scientific and Practical Forum "Russian Healthcare Week-2023", NMRC for Rehabilitation and Balneology of the Ministry of Health of Russia held a scientific and practical conference "Natural therapeutic resources as a tool to increase the attraction of sanatoria and spas" and an educational event for nursing staff of sanatoria and spas "Rules and specific features of balneotherapy, hydrotherapy and various types of hardware physiotherapy".