19 May 2023 10:13

Preventive examinations of children are covered by mandatory health insurance

Preventive medical examinations covered by the Benefit Package of mandatory health insurance include the mandatory health screening and regular oral examination for children. Examinations for primary medical and sanitary assistance are carried out free of charge at polyclinics or family health centers where children are registered. Preventive examinations are conducted to periodically check children's health, detect possible diseases at an early stage, carry out treatment in a timely manner, and prevent diseases.

Mandatory health assessment of children under 18 years of age

Mandatory health assessment is carried out according to the approved examination schedule, based on the age and health condition of children. Examinations for children up to three years of age are carried out several times a year, and once a year for children between three and 18 years of age. It should be noted that three-year-old children are examined by a pediatrician every six months.

Children are examined by pediatricians, ophthalmologists, otorhinolaryngologists (i.e., ENT doctors), neuropathologists, speech therapists, and dentists. Preventive examinations evaluate various organs and systems of children, especially related the nervous system. Additionally, weight dynamics are examined, and congenital developmental defects are identified, and the children’s speech, stature, hearing, vision, ears, noses, and throats are examined. Their physical and mental development are controlled, and other medical services are provided.

If the need arises during the examination, referrals for additional examination and treatment are issued to the relevant specialist doctor. Children are taken to the health assessment at the doctor's invitation. Parents and other legal representatives are responsible for taking children to the medical facility and following the instructions of the medical staff regarding the examination.

Regular examination of the oral cavities of children

Oral hygiene examinations conducted at an early age promote the hygiene of a child’s oral cavity, teach the child to properly care for his/her teeth, prompt the child to come to the dental examination on time without fear of the doctor and dental instruments, and, as a result, have a positive effect on the general health of children.

Rehabilitation of the oral cavity in children is carried out by a family doctor, field pediatrician, or field therapist. During the examination, the family doctor/field pediatrician/field therapist evaluates the development of the child's teeth in accordance with age physiology, and then performs oral cavity sanitation for any disease (e.g., stomatitis, aphthous ulcers, gingivitis).

In accordance with the scope and quality standards of medical care to be provided to children who will undergo mandatory health assessment, the examination of the oral cavity is performed once a year by a dentist, surgeon, and speech therapist. Here, the examiner carries out the timely detection of milk tooth defects in two-year-old children, dental-jaw examination in three-year-old children, the timely identification of tooth defects in four- and five-year-old children, and examinations related to the formation of tooth decay in children of first through sixth grades and seventh through 11th grades.

Most diseases and disabilities develop in childhood. Taking this into account, the timely detection and prevention of risk factors that cause diseases among children and the early detection, treatment, and control of children with acute and chronic diseases are among the priority areas of primary medical and sanitary assistance. In this regard, preventive examinations of children are recommended to protect their health and ensure their normal physical development.