Overview
- Lawmakers are set to hold the second reading on October 29 of the government bill requiring budget-funded medical and pharmaceutical students to enter targeted training contracts in their first year if offered and eligible.
- The draft sets mirror financial liabilities: employers that fail to provide jobs must pay compensation for the first year plus a double penalty, while students who breach terms must reimburse that year’s cost with a double fine.
- The A Just Russia faction submitted amendments proposing a three-year mentorship period with free housing, relocation reimbursement, and a salary top-up of at least 100% of the regional average for the specialty.
- The Duma’s Science and Higher Education Committee recommended keeping roughly 70% of specialist-degree seats as targeted while making residency training 100% targeted, according to Health Committee chair Sergey Leonov.
- Recommended changes also include allowing the Health Ministry to set shorter mentorship terms than three years and creating a separate admissions track for targeted applicants to medical colleges.