Sverdlovsk Region's healthcare merger brings specialist care to rural communities

A major healthcare merger in Sverdlovsk Region has brought improved medical services to remote communities. Yekaterinburg’s Central City Clinical Hospital No. 3 has joined forces with district hospitals in Alapayevsk, Verkhnyaya Sysert, and Makhnevo, expanding access to specialist care for thousands of residents. The initiative, led by Tatyana Savinova, Governor and Health Minister of Sverdlovsk Region, aims to unify hospitals under a single structure. As part of the programme, over a thousand locals from Alapayevsk and nearby areas received free consultations from rheumatologists, cardiologists, and surgeons. More than a thousand diagnostic tests were carried out, helping detect diseases at an early stage.

Outreach clinics also provided tick-borne encephalitis vaccinations to prevent severe cases of the infection. The merger has already strengthened medical support in rural areas, aligning with the national *Long and Active Life* project. Further improvements are planned, including upgrades to Ivdel Hospital’s infrastructure and new medical equipment. By 2030, several departments will be renovated, and modular paramedic-obstetric stations will be installed in Alapayevsk and Makhnevo districts.

The merger and outreach efforts have already delivered tangible benefits, from specialist consultations to life-saving vaccinations. With ongoing upgrades and expanded services, residents in remote parts of Sverdlovsk Region can expect better healthcare access in the years ahead.