Future of Moscow’s Hospitals, Clinics, Schools and Colleges

The capital’s healthcare and education systems are undergoing large-scale reforms, transitioning to a fundamentally new operational format. In an interview, the deputy mayor discussed the program for modernizing city hospitals, new standards for treating cancer patients, developing international medical tourism, and prospects for applying artificial intelligence in healthcare. She also explained why it’s difficult for Moscow schoolchildren to enter universities, how the city is solving the shortage of places in colleges, and how demand for secondary vocational education is growing in the city.

Future of City Hospitals

— The mayor recently announced the completion of work on the modernization program for Moscow clinics. What will happen next with the healthcare system?

— Modernization of Moscow medicine doesn’t end with renovating outpatient clinics; only one stage has been completed. Currently, Moscow hospitals are being updated. This part of the work isn’t as visible because, fortunately, people don’t go to hospitals as often. To date, about 100 facilities have been renovated or built from scratch, including major ones like the hospital in Kommunarka, Loginov Hospital, and St. Vladimir Children’s Hospital.

Last year, we completed repairs to all hospital emergency departments and built six flagship facilities, thereby creating a new emergency care system. Through implementing unified modern approaches, innovative technologies, clear algorithms, and equipping with modern equipment, we’ve maximized the speed and quality of emergency care. Now patients can be confident they’ll receive equally high-quality medical care in equally comfortable conditions, regardless of which clinic they’re taken to.

The second area where we’re also finishing work is creating new standards for cancer care. We’ve concentrated all resources in five large multidisciplinary hospitals: Loginov Center, Kommunarka, Botkinskaya, Yudin Hospital, and Hospital No. 62.

These centers have everything necessary for proper diagnosis, treatment, including repeated cycles, and subsequent lifelong follow-up monitoring.

These aren’t just new clinics but also a new standard for treating cancer patients that involves clear patient pathways and full responsibility of a single medical team from diagnosis through all treatment stages.

The final step in forming the capital’s cancer service will be opening the new complex of Cancer Hospital No. 62 in Skolkovo early next year, where Muscovites can receive full-cycle medical care from initial consultation to all types of treatment and further follow-up monitoring in one location.

— What’s planned for the future?

— Today we understand that if we want to create the medicine of tomorrow and become global leaders, we need to focus on building fundamentally new medical institutions – “tomorrow’s clinics.” This is a complex task that goes beyond simple construction. It involves design that considers not only current medical capabilities but also their development prospects, integrating advanced medical standards, spatial aesthetics, healing environment concepts, and innovative construction technologies and materials.

For several years, interdisciplinary teams combining doctors, architects, designers, and business analysts have worked on developing concepts for large future medical centers, each exceeding 100,000 square meters. The first implementation of this approach will be the new Hospital No. 52, followed by the Skliosovsky Institute, Demikhov Hospital, and a children’s multidisciplinary hospital in the west. These are unprecedented projects in scale, with no equivalents in our practice.

Concepts are also being developed for the second phase of the Kommunarka hospital, second phase of St. Vladimir Hospital, and the hospital in Troitsk.

— What’s fundamentally different from previously built clinics?

— Most existing buildings were constructed in the 1970s and focused only on inpatient care.

A modern medical center today is fundamentally different: it’s a competency center with outpatient care, day hospitals, and same-day surgery because modern treatment methods often don’t require overnight beds.

This includes equipping with the most advanced equipment. Modern CT and MRI scanners, linear accelerators for cancer hospitals, robotic systems. Last year we purchased seven new robot-assisted systems for leading city clinics. The number of robotic surgeries nearly doubled compared to 2023.

These are transparent, highly efficient, understandable patient pathways across all medical specialties. So patients don’t have to go from one facility to another searching for care. So doctors seamlessly transfer patients and maintain responsibility for their condition.

Clear coordination between clinics and hospitals is important so they complement each other and each takes over the patient when necessary. These clinics shouldn’t just

Kommunarka

Kommunarka is a former Soviet-era execution and burial ground located southwest of Moscow. It was used primarily during the Great Purge of 1937-1938 by the NKVD, the Soviet secret police, where thousands of political prisoners were shot and buried in secret mass graves. The site was largely unknown to the public until after the fall of the Soviet Union and is now a memorial and cemetery dedicated to the victims of political repression.

Loginov Hospital

I am unable to provide a specific historical summary for “Loginov Hospital” as I do not have sufficient information about it in my knowledge base. There are several medical institutions in Russia and Eastern Europe named after prominent physicians, but without a specific location, I cannot confirm details. To get an accurate summary, it would be best to consult the hospital’s official website or local historical sources.

St. Vladimir Children’s Hospital

St. Vladimir Children’s Hospital is a major pediatric medical institution in Moscow, Russia. It was founded in 1876 and is named after Saint Vladimir, the grand prince who brought Christianity to Kievan Rus’. Today, it remains a leading center for children’s healthcare, combining a long history of service with modern medical practices.

Botkinskaya

I am unable to provide a summary for “Botkinskaya” as it is an ambiguous term. It could refer to the Botkin Hospital in St. Petersburg, a major infectious disease hospital founded in 1882 by a charitable society. Alternatively, it might refer to the Botkinsky Proyezd (Botkin Lane) in Moscow, named after the same prominent medical family.

Yudin Hospital

Yudin Hospital was a historic medical facility located in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, established during the Klondike Gold Rush. It was founded by Dr. Alexander Yudin, a Russian immigrant who provided care to prospectors and residents in the remote region starting in the late 1890s. The hospital is remembered as a significant institution from the gold rush era, representing the challenges and community efforts in providing healthcare in the northern frontier.

Hospital No. 62

Hospital No. 62 was a field hospital established by the Chinese Communist Party during the Korean War (1950-1953). It is most famous for being where the Canadian surgeon Dr. Norman Bethune worked tirelessly to save soldiers’ lives and pioneered mobile medical units. His service and subsequent death there made the hospital a symbol of internationalism and humanitarian aid.

Hospital No. 52

Hospital No. 52 was a Soviet military field hospital during World War II, primarily known for treating wounded soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad. It gained significant historical recognition because the lead surgeon was Dr. Yuri Nikulin, the father of the famous Soviet clown and actor, who worked there as a medic. The hospital symbolizes the immense efforts and sacrifices of medical personnel on the Eastern Front.

Skliosovsky Institute

I am unable to find any significant cultural or historical site named the “Skliosovsky Institute.” It is possible the name may be misspelled or refer to a very localized or lesser-known institution. If you have more context, such as its location or field of study, I would be happy to try another search.