"This is not a privilege, but a legal right": from September 1, relatives of seriously ill patients can stay in the hospital for free.

      Who can stay in the hospital for free

      Legal representatives or companions of patients with first-group disabilities have the right to stay in the hospital for free around the clock.

      The list of relatives entitled to this right has been legally expanded. It includes:

      spouses;

      parents (including adoptive parents);

      children (including adopted children);

      grandparents;

      grandchildren;

      full and half-brothers and sisters.

      An important clarification: the decisive argument for admission is not formal kinship, but the patient's objective need for constant care and assistance due to the severity of their condition.

      Food and sleeping space — covered by compulsory health insurance

      One of the most significant aspects of the reform has been the removal of the financial burden from families. Previously, in many institutions, companions had to pay for a bed and three meals a day themselves.

      Now, hospitals are prohibited from charging for these services. All expenses are reimbursed by the state through the compulsory health insurance (CHI) system. Free beds and meals are provided on a gratuitous basis.

      The initiative comes from the attending physician, but final consent must be obtained from the patient themselves, which emphasizes respect for their will.

      Special rules for parents of young patients

      For families with children, a separate, more lenient regulation is provided:

      Unconditional right — parents of children under four years old, as well as parents of disabled children of any age, have the right to stay together in the hospital for free without additional permissions.

      For medical reasons — for parents of children over four years old who do not have disabilities, the right to free stay is retained only if there are medical indications confirming the need for continuous care.

      Without medical indications — the issue is decided at the discretion of the doctor, but in this case, the state no longer guarantees the provision of food and sleeping space.

      Companions also have responsibilities

      Gaining the right to enter the hospital imposes certain obligations on visitors:

      the presence of changeable hygiene footwear and clothing;

      strict adherence to sanitary and epidemiological regulations;

      undergoing mandatory medical examination (fluorography, vaccination status) during prolonged stays.

      The clinic's management reserves the right to revoke access if the relative's behavior interferes with the staff's work or violates the established treatment order.

      Simplified access to medical documents

      The innovations also concern information openness. If the patient has previously opened access to their electronic medical record through the government services portal, their relatives will be able to quickly receive extracts and test results in electronic format.

      It is no longer necessary to collect paper powers of attorney and notarize them. A digital request significantly speeds up the process and saves time that can be devoted to caring for the patient.

      What this means for residents of Kirov

      The new rules apply throughout Russia, including the Kirov region. Now, residents of the region whose loved ones are in serious condition in hospitals can stay with them around the clock and for free — without collecting certificates, without paying for a bed and meals.

      The main thing to remember is that the right to stay must be documented (certificate of first-group disability, medical indications). And during prolonged stays in the hospital — to undergo mandatory medical examinations and comply with the internal regulations of the medical institution.