Overview
- President Vladimir Putin signed the amendments on November 17, updating health and education laws to reshape medical training and early-career placement.
- Starting March 1, 2026, entry to a budget-funded residency will require a target contract with a designated employer, with non‑signers subject to expulsion or transfer to paid study if places exist.
- Graduates who pass primary accreditation must work under a mentor in organizations participating in the mandatory medical insurance system for up to three years, with scope and durations to be finalized by the ministry.
- Violations of target-contract obligations will require reimbursement of training costs of at least one year, and medical institutions can be fined for refusing to employ their contracted trainees.
- The law permits cascade target training from degree to residency under one employer, and backers cite national shortages and needs in regions such as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson to justify the changes.