The Ministry of Health has allowed MRI scans to be conducted without a doctor's referral starting from September 1.

      The Ministry of Health of Russia has approved the Rules for Conducting Radiological Studies, which will come into effect on September 1, 2026. The document has been registered with the Ministry of Justice and published. Among other things, it contains a provision that changes the established procedure for referring patients for MRI.

      According to paragraphs 10 and 19 of the new Rules, magnetic resonance imaging can be performed without a referral from the attending physician. However, this refers specifically to the possibility, not the obligation, for medical organizations to accept all patients without a referral — the procedure for scheduling appointments will remain at the discretion of the clinics. At the same time, for all other types of radiological diagnostics listed in the document, a referral remains mandatory.

      Importantly, the new regulation does not eliminate medical oversight of the quality of diagnostics. In any case, the analysis of MRI results is conducted by a radiologist, and a report is prepared according to a standardized form following the study. The preparation period is 24 hours from the time the procedure is performed.

      In some cases, a referral will still be required. If the study involves the administration of contrast agents or other invasive interventions, the attending physician is required to check for contraindications in advance and reflect this in the referral. This requirement is specified separately.

      The Rules themselves contain 33 appendices — from standards for equipping rooms to staffing norms for radiological departments and radiation diagnostics centers. The document will be in effect until September 1, 2032.