The Lives of People with Ostomies in Russia

The lives of people with ostomies in Russia are varied, and it is impossible to give a definitive answer. But thats always been the case. After all, Russia is a very large country. Currently, it comprises 89 federal subjects. This translates, for comparison, to 89 different countries. Each federal subject has its own government. Of course, there is a central government, and there is a president—Putin.

But our Association of Ostomy Patients (ASTOM) has to work in exactly 89 countries simultaneously

In terms of legislation and the rights of people with ostomies, here is what we have now. All people with ostomies who are classified have access to all stoma care products free of charge. There are approximately 120,000 to 140,000 such people in Russia.

The list of stoma care products that are provided free of charge is extensive. According to the law, there are 45 types.

Here is the document and section 21 from paragraph 21-01-01 to paragraph 21-01-45 for people with ostomies: Order of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation of February 13, 2018 No. 86″; On approval of the classification of technical rehabilitation means (products) within the framework of the federal list of rehabilitation measures, technical rehabilitation means and services provided to a disabled person, approved by Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 30, 2005 No. 2347- (As amended and supplemented on May 6, 2019, March 5, 2021 Order of the Ministry of Labor of Russia No. 108n) 

Приказ  Министерства   труда и социальной защиты  Российской   Федерации   от 13 февраля  2018г. № 86н  "Об утверждении классификации технических средств реабилитации (изделий) в рамках федерального перечня реабилитационных мероприятий, технических средств реабилитации и услуг, предоставляемых инвалиду, утвержденного Распоряжением Правительства Российской Федерации от 30 декабря 2005 г. \№2347-р".   (С изменениями и дополнениями от 6 мая 2019 г., 5 марта 2021 г. Приказ Минтруда России №108н)

I expanded this list 10 years ago. I personally met with the Minister of Social Protection of Russia, and I personally spoke at a special commission on expanding this list. Previously, this list contained about 10 items—names of stoma care products—provided free of charge to people with ostomies.

I also succeeded in expanding this list to include people with urological problems and other types of ostomies, such as nephrostomies. And those who use catheters. Also, those with incontinence.

Currently, Russia provides free provision of all types of care products to people with disabilities in two ways. The first is in-kind provision. This means care products are delivered to the home or to special distribution points. The second method is provision using an electronic certificate. This means that money is transferred to the disabled person’s electronic payment card, and the disabled person then purchases the care product they need. However, the disabled person cannot withdraw funds from the card; they can only pay for the purchase automatically. Often, with thi s option, the disabled person pays a small additional amount, up to 15% of the cost of the product.

Both methods of providing care for the disabled operate through the Social Fund of Russia. This Fund has regional branches throughout Russia, including the new regions of Crimea, Luhansk Oblast, Donbas, and others that were incorporated into Russia from Ukraine.

Of course, we still have problems with ostomy patients who do not have the status of “disabled”; They cannot take advantage of the state system of free provision.

Only in Moscow can we currently provide care to all ostomy patients—both those with and without the status of “disabled.”; Moscow has a different system of provision. Our Association “ASTOM” and I personally developed this system of provision together with the Moscow City Government in 1994. We successfully expanded this scheme to other regions until 2013. At that time, 15 regions were covered. But then everything began to shrink. Now, only Moscow and parts of St. Petersburg, Samara Oblast, and Tatarstan remain.

Another problem remains. When the military operation in Ukraine began, the US and Western European countries began to harm Russia. Companies like ConvaTek and Hollister have fled Russia. Coloplast and, to some extent, B-Braun remain.

Domestic production of stoma care products has now emerged. It is expanding. Many small manufacturers producing skin care products around the stoma (cosmetics) have emerged. Previously, we had one domestic stoma product manufacturer operating since 1992. In 2014, a second, very large domestic facility with new equipment was launched in Moscow.

I have visited this production facility many times and organized tours for our ostomy patients: https://astom.ru/ru/news/astom-otmetil-vsemirnyi-den-stomirovannykh-v-mire-vysokikh-tekhnologii

Many other companies have entered the Russian market from China, Turkey, and India. But their quality is very good. There is another manufacturer from Belarus. The quality is not very good either.

So, this is the current situation for ostomy patients in Russia. \We continue to actively work to fight for the rights of ostomy patients and to develop medical rehabilitation assistance for ostomy patients together with doctors. I speak at many medical conferences on proctology. You can view reports on our website: https://astom.ru/ru/news, and also in our magazines: https://astom.ru/ru/zhurnal-%E2%80%9Castom%E2%80%9D

I also work on the state standards committee, where we develop and oversee standards that guide manufacturers in making products for people with ostomies, and that the Russian Social Fund organizes tenders for the purchase of these products.

By: Viacheslav Sukhanov

President ASTOM
Regional Public Organisation of Invalid Ostomy Patients