Organization of the Pediatric Urology Service in the Russian Federation

Introduction. The organization of specialized health care for children with urogenital disorders is one of the priority areas of modern healthcare. The effectiveness of the pediatric urology service is determined by staffing, the structure and performance indicators of the hospital bed capacity, patient routing, and the material and technical equipment of health institutions.

Aim: To assess the current state of the pediatric urology service in the Russian Federation, identify the main challenges, and define the key directions for its development.

Materials and methods. Annual federal statistical observation forms (Forms No. 47, 30, 12, 14, Russian Federation 2019–2025), regulatory legal acts, and analytical materials of the Federal State Autonomous Institution «National Medical Research Center of Children’s Health» of the Ministry of Health of Russia obtained within the framework of organizational and methodological support of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation over the specified period were analyzed.

Results. Between 2019 and 2025, the number of pediatric urology and andrology professionals has increased by 19.4%. The staffing level in the outpatient sector rose to 79.3%, yet the availability of specialists remains 6.2 times lower than the calculated target indicator. The number of outpatient visits increased by 15.5% compared to 2019, while the number of hospitalizations increased by 10.8%, with the average length of stay decrease to 6.3 bed-days. Deficiencies in the equipment of pediatric surgical inpatient facilities were identified: either the absence of basic video endoscopic equipment or a high need for its replacement. In 90% of the regions, existing decrees on routing of children with urogenital disorders require updating.

Conclusion. Despite the positive trends of the key indicators, the following challenges persist: staffing shortage in the outpatient sector; the need for material and technical provision in health institutions; and the development of up-to-date routing decrees. Priority fields for the service improvement include updating regional patient routing protocols, strengthening the outpatient workforce, modernizing hospital equipment, and implementing unified clinical approaches in practice.

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