Requirements for medical personnel providing medical care at onsite industrial facilities in the Russian Arctic continental shelf

Introduction. The development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation implies the operation of offshore structures under extreme climatic conditions, high industrial hazards, and remoteness from onshore infrastructures. In such a context, provision of efficient medical care becomes of strategic importance. However, personnel training for health posts on offshore structures remains insufficient. In addition, there is no professional standard for a “shipboard medical specialist,” with the existing qualification requirements covering only a portion of all necessary competencies.

Objective. To analyze and generalize the regulatory, organizational, and personnel requirements for medical staff at health posts of offshore structures on the Arctic Shelf, and to develop proposals for improving their training system.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted using an analytical retrospective design. The research base included the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation (2010–2025), orders of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, and the FMBA of Russia, corporate regulations of two oil and gas companies, as well as medical evacuation statistics. Methods of analytical review and content analysis were applied.

Results. Staff shortages and the lack of specialized training were established as the limiting factors in the sustainable functioning of the entire system. The necessity of a multi-level training model was substantiated, including mandatory qualification requirements, regular simulation trainings, specialized courses and introductory courses for physicians, as well as the requirement for certificates permitting physicians to work.

Conclusions. Regular additional training and the formation of a unified registry of physicians who have completed the full training program are key conditions for ensuring the medical safety of remote facilities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and for developing the personnel potential.

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