‘A year hasn’t passed, I can’t prescribe it’: Moscow residents complain of ultrasound refusals
«Ultrasound only once a year» — Muscovites are increasingly encountering such remarks from doctors. City residents have complained to the MSK1.RU editorial office about a shortage of appointment slots for the procedure, as well as refusals by doctors to issue referrals for the free scan.
Reports of problems booking ultrasound appointments have come from patients in various districts of the capital. According to those who reached out, it is now only possible to book an appointment in emergency cases. Some are told by medics that the free procedure is only allowed once a year, while others are refused due to «non-urgent» symptoms.
«Just the other day I went to the women»s clinic on Izmaylovskoye Highway. I went to my attending physician,« explained one of the women who contacted the outlet. »Earlier that same day I had blood drawn for hormones, I wanted to book an ultrasound. But the doctor told me that they«ve now changed the rules for ultrasound referrals. Therefore, they can only refer me if my blood tests are normal (ruling out hormonal issues), and the problem remains unclear, only then can I get a referral.»
Another Muscovite encountered a similar situation. Although the man did not insist on having the scan, he was still astonished by the doctor«s response.
«Polyclinic at Federal Hospital No. 85. I sometimes have pain in my hypochondrium, I had a serious operation a little over a year ago,» the man explains. «I voiced my assumption to the doctor. I asked the doctor if I needed an ultrasound. To which the doctor replied: »You had one in March. A year hasn«t passed, I can’t prescribe it.» Considering that funding for healthcare in Russia was cut almost in half in 2026, I’m not surprised by anything. I don«t want to blame the doctors, they are involuntary hostages of the circumstances.»
Another woman who contacted the outlet reported that last summer she literally had to fight to get a referral for an ultrasound at Polyclinic No. 212. The 55-year-old told the editors she complained to doctors about pain in the soft tissues of her arm between the shoulder and elbow joints.
The woman initially insisted on an ultrasound, but doctors were in no hurry to draw conclusions. The Muscovite did not argue and did as the specialists said: she went for an X-ray. But the cause of the pain was not found.
«Doctors have regulations, protocols, first — X-ray, then — consideration of ultrasound. I went for another X-ray, of course, no joint changes that would cause such pain were identified,» the woman recalls. «The district doctor gives a referral for an ultrasound. After a while, I discover the referral isn»t being activated. Another trip to the polyclinic, I find out: the head doctor didn«t approve the ultrasound. I go to her and say: »You haven«t been able to diagnose the cause of the pain for half a year and you»re blocking the ultrasound.« But I scratched out a referral after many trips to the polyclinic.»
According to the woman, although the scan revealed nothing, doctors were allegedly in no hurry to find the cause of the pain. The woman was then recommended a consultation with a manual therapist for acupuncture. The diagnosis was finally established at another institution.
An MSK1.RU correspondent requested a comment from the Moscow Department of Health, which denied the existence of a problem or any changes in issuing referrals for examinations.
«No changes have occurred in the system for issuing referrals or booking ultrasound appointments. We additionally report that currently there are no problems with referrals or bookings for this examination. Free slots are available in the system, and with a referral, patients can book an appointment themselves,» the department clarified to journalists.
Nevertheless, patients who have encountered unfairness can file an official complaint on mos.ru or via the Telegram chat: @dzm_support.
Earlier, a Muscovite accused a city infectious diseases hospital of infecting her elderly mother. The pensioner spent 36 days in the hospital and was discharged still ill. Moreover, on top of that she developed another «ailment».
