Online Doctor Consultations in Russia: The 2026 Regulatory Landscape

Russia's telemedicine framework has undergone three rounds of meaningful amendments since 2022. The cumulative effect, as of 2026, is a clearer scope for online consultations and somewhat narrower restrictions than international audiences sometimes assume.

What is now permitted

Licensed physicians registered with the Federal Register of Medical Workers may conduct online consultations for follow-up of previously diagnosed conditions, lifestyle and wellness counselling, and second-opinion services. Initial diagnoses still require an in-person component for most conditions, with limited exceptions for dermatology and certain mental-health services.

Identification and data localization

Patient identification is now standardized through Gosuslugi or via a notarized digital signature workflow. All session data — video, transcripts, and medical records — must be stored on servers physically located in the Russian Federation, in compliance with Article 18(5) of Federal Law No. 152-FZ.

What this means for wellness platforms

Apps offering doctor consultations as part of their service must contract with licensed providers and ensure end-to-end compliance: the medical-record storage, the consent workflows, the data localization, and the patient-identification step. Apollo's Premium plan operates under this framework.

The user experience

For users, the practical change is that online consultations are now broadly accepted as part of routine care for non-acute issues. Reimbursement through compulsory medical insurance remains limited, which is why most platforms operate on a paid-subscription or per-consultation basis.

What is still restricted

Prescription of controlled substances, definitive diagnosis of serious conditions without prior in-person assessment, and specialized procedures requiring physical examination remain strictly out of scope for online channels.