Investing in Youth: How Chita's Hospital Changed in 2025

In 2026, City Clinical Hospital No. 1 (GCB) in Zabaykalsky Krai turned 132 years old. Over this time, it has constantly developed and implemented new treatment methods.

According to chief doctor Fedor Cheptsov, the main question now is not how to optimize the number of operations and beds, but how to preserve the youth and professionalism of the team.

Plans for GCB in 2026

Currently, the key direction for the hospital remains the staffing issue, as without an influx of young specialists, any hospital ages.

— First City closely cooperates with the medical academy. Several departments work on the basis of the institution, and volunteer movements for students and college are developing. Young doctors come here even during their studies to feel the atmosphere of the profession and find their interest in it.

According to the chief doctor, salary is important, but only it won«t retain a specialist if they don»t have professional growth and internal motivation. Without this, there will be no future for either the doctor or the healthcare system.

Separate attention in 2026 will be given to mentorship. Today it is built on a voluntary basis and already yields good results.

— It is important to preserve this format without overloading it with bureaucracy, as we purposefully invest in training promising specialists.

Investment in Future Doctors

To ensure that in a few years, current professionals are replaced by equally first-class specialists, GCB is already investing in their development, education, and helping them gain quality and necessary experience.

In 2025, a doctor from the ENT department twice underwent internships at Moscow facilities. An anesthesiologist trained in Arkhangelsk to implement new pain management technologies in GCB«s work. The hospital adheres to a simple principle — always think about who to pass on experience and responsibility to. Here, they prepare successors in advance: through residency, internships, and practice.

— There are many free educational opportunities, and the medical academy seriously helps us in this. But there are also unique things that need to be mastered for money. So we spent over 350,000 rubles (approximately $3,800 at current rates) on specialist training last year, noted chief doctor Fedor Cheptsov of the first city hospital.

Today, about 200 doctors and 350 nurses work in the institution. Young specialists are supported at the start of their path so that their ascent in the profession is confident.

New Treatment Technologies

Fedor Cheptsov claims that personnel policy directly affects the development of medical care. So now the hospital is actively implementing modern treatment methods.

— During the pandemic, a major renovation was carried out in the surgical department. Today it is a modern unit located in a historical building, with comfortable conditions for patients and staff. The team went through the difficult period of the pandemic, preserved the team and work processes, and emerged from the crisis stronger.

Also, in surgical and traumatology departments, they started performing spinal surgeries in the area of vertebral surgery, implemented new hernia repair techniques that reduce the risk of adhesions, and continued developing endoprosthetics, including shoulder joint replacements.

— City Clinical Hospital is accustomed to introducing new treatment methods into its routine. For example, laparoscopic surgeries we have been conducting since 1994, and they first appeared in Zabaykalsky Krai with us.

In the urology department at GCB, the number of prostate surgeries doubled, reconstructive interventions became more frequent, and laser began to be used in treating urolithiasis.

— The hospital also operates a system of extracorporeal blood purification — multifiltrate. It is used for acute renal failure, toxemia, and sepsis. Part of the modern equipment we purchase with our own funds. We are interested in updating the equipment park, as it reduces treatment times, improves results, and enhances patients« quality of life.

In GCB, electronic medical records have been fully implemented. The development of information technology continues in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health and federal centers.

Work of the Burn Center

For over 50 years, burn and toxicology departments have been operating in the hospital. In 2018, during large-scale fires, a large number of victims were admitted here. All patients were saved.

Then the clinic was visited by the Minister of Health, and after familiarizing herself with the center«s work, she was convinced that assistance is provided at the federal level. In 2025, this department continued to be developed, and now it is considered one of the most stable.

— The results of our work are confirmed at the regional level. According to the results of the «Best Doctor of the Year» competition, Leonid Lobanov was noted as the best surgeon, and Baia Gavrilenko as the best therapist. Also highly appreciated was the work of the urology department.

Despite its impressive age, First City Hospital remains young in spirit. Here they think about succession, invest in people, develop technologies, and support professional interest. As a result, residents of the region get access to modern medicine on site without the need to go to other cities.

This is precisely the main result of the work: in the stability of the system, in preserved personnel, and in patient trust.

City Clinical Hospital No. 1,
address: Lenina St., 8, Building 1;
phone: +7 (3022) 21-00-20;
VKontakte (16+);
website.