Russia Healthcare and Money

By | May 9, 2022

Health care

Vaccinations

Vaccination needed receipt required
Eat Drink
malaria no
Typhoid & Polio Yes
cholera no
yellow fever no

Overview

A lower standard of medical care can be expected in the Russian Federation. This is especially true outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Anyone who is dependent on taking medication should take all necessary medicines with them, as they are often not available in the Russian Federation. Emergency outpatient treatment is usually free, unless the problem is more serious. However, the state clinics often do not meet the German standard in terms of equipment and know-how. Help can be called via the emergency telephone number 03. In private hospitals, which also send paid ambulances if necessary, the costs of medical treatment can be many times higher than in Germany. In addition, even in emergencies, medical treatment is often only provided against advance payment (either in cash or by credit card). If you have a sudden toothache, you can go to a Swiss joint venture practice in the Moscow Hotel Intourist. Payment only in foreign currency. The same applies to the American Medical Center and the International Health Care Center in Moscow. According to the Russian visa regulations, health insurance must be taken out in order to enter the Russian Federation. In the event of illness, this insurance company should be contacted immediately. Check ebizdir for more information.

Food and drink

Due to the risk of possible infections, careful drinking water and food hygiene must be ensured. Water is not always germ-free and should be either boiled or otherwise sterilized for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice cubes, or bought in packages. When buying packaged water, you should make sure that the original packaging has not been opened. Milk is pasteurized and, like dairy products, it is safe to consume. In the southern republics, unfamiliar foods can sometimes cause mild digestive problems for foreign travelers. Isolated cases of trichinosis are reported from Siberia throughout the year. The infection was caused by eating game meat (brown bear, polar bear, raccoon, fox, wolf, lynx and walrus). Therefore, travelers are advised not to eat undercooked meat. There is no risk of infection with fully cooked or boiled meat.

Other risks

The standard vaccinations for children and adults recommended by the Robert Koch Institute (including against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, measles, rubella, pneumococci and influenza) should be refreshed before the trip if necessary. Nationwide, from April to October, there is a risk of transmission of Lyme disease from ticks, especially in grass, shrubs and undergrowth. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Typhus occurs in the colder areas. The fever is caused by clothes lice. To protect yourself, you should practice regular body and clothing hygiene. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Russian tick-borne encephalitis (RSSE) are transmitted by ticks. The forest areas from Kaliningrad to Eastern Siberia are affected. The risk of ticks is particularly high in the area between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, in southern and eastern Siberia and in the wetlands north of Lake Ladoga in Karelia. Vaccination against TBE is possible. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B occur nationwide. A hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. HIV/AIDS is a great danger for everyone who takes risks of infection: unprotected sexual contacts, unclean syringes or needles and blood transfusions can pose a significant health risk. There is an increased risk of contracting Japanese encephalitis from July to September, especially in the rural and suburban coastal areas south of Khabarovsk in south-eastern Siberia. Rabies occurs nationwide, including in cities. Foxes are the main carriers, but dogs, cats, other forest animals and bats also do. Vaccination is recommended for backpackers, children, occupational risk groups and for longer stays. In the event of a bite, seek medical attention as soon as possible. There is a risk of tick bite fever throughout the country and all year round. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is also caused by ticks. Protective measures are skin-covering clothing and insect repellent. It cannot be ruled out that accidents involving the release of radioactivity occurred in the vicinity of the city of Chelabinsk (Mayak nuclear facility) in 2007. Forest fruits, mushrooms and berries could be radioactive. We therefore advise against consuming these mostly locally available foods.

Health certificate

For foreigners who stay in the country for more than 3 months, a negative HIV test in English and Russian is required for the visa application (work or student visa) or entry (form on request from the embassy).

Money

Currency

1 ruble = 100 kopecks. Currency code: Rbl, RUB (ISO code). Banknotes are in denominations of 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 10 and 5 rubles. Coins come in denominations of 10, 5, 2 and 1 ruble and 50, 10, 5 and 1 kopecks in denominations. 1 and 5 kopecks in denominations are no longer produced, prices are rounded to 10 and 50 kopecks.

Credit cards

International credit cards such as American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted in larger hotels, shops and restaurants (although American Express is almost exclusively accepted in Moscow and St. Petersburg). Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card. In numerous large hotels and department stores there are ATMs where you can withdraw cash with a credit card or Girocard.

ATMs

Girocard The Girocard (formerly EC card) with the Maestro symbol is accepted in Russia. It can be used at ATMs with the Maestro symbol and in shops. Especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg there are enough ATMs, beware of manipulated devices. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.

Travelers cheques

Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are hardly available in Austria. Traveller’s Checks should be made out in US Dollars or Euros and can only be cashed at Sviaz Bank branches in major cities (exchanging takes time).

Bank opening hours

Mon-Thu 9.30am-5pm, Fri 9.30am-4pm (variations are possible).

Foreign exchange regulations

Import and export to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) The import and export of local currency is unlimited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, the export of foreign currency in cash is limited to the equivalent of US$10,000. From an equivalent value of US$ 10,000, there is always a declaration obligation. In any case, it is advisable to ask the responsible consular representation about the current currency regulations.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currencies should only be exchanged in official exchange offices and banks (small denominations). Any currency exchange, there are daily fluctuations, must be noted on the declaration form, and all receipts should be kept until departure. Currency exchange outside bank hours is possible in international hotels, exchange offices and airports. Money transfers via Western Union are also possible.

Currencies

Code Symbol Exchange rates (no guarantee)
RUB rub 1 EUR = 64.37 rubles
1 CHF = 76.66 rubles
1 USD = 61.85 rubles

Russia Money