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Ambulance for foreigners in Moscow: how it works

Emergency care in a life-threatening situation is free in Russia for everyone, including foreigners without insurance. Everything else is paid — in state hospitals as well as with us. The real difficulty for a visitor is not money but language: dispatch lines work in Russian and foreign bank cards do not work here. We have taken that into account.

Call now +7 (985) 887-82-52dispatch line, 24/7 (Russian-speaking)

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What to do right now

How to call without Russian
Ask a Russian speaker — hotel reception, a colleague — to call. Or write to us in a messenger in English: address, what happened, your name and phone, and we will reply with an interpreter. Our English page: skoraya-pomosh112.ru/en/.
What to tell the dispatcher
The full address: street, building, entrance, floor, flat, door code. What happened, the person’s age, your phone number.
Documents
A passport. For admission under compulsory insurance a Russian policy is required; without one, treatment in a state hospital is paid, or arranged by contract with a private clinic.
Payment
Cash in roubles, a Russian bank card, or an SBP transfer from a Russian banking app. Visa and Mastercard issued abroad do not work in Russia.
Insurance
We provide a contract, a receipt and a detailed act for your insurer; we do not bill insurance companies directly.

Call an ambulance if

Any acute condition in a hotel, flat or office
Admission to a private clinic by contract, or to a state hospital on a paid basis
Transport to the airport for medical repatriation
ECG, drip or examination at home for a traveller with no access to a clinic
In-flight escort — by arrangement with the airline

What not to do

Do not expect an English-speaking dispatcher on 103 — there is none
Do not try to pay with a foreign card
Do not refuse emergency care because you have no policy — it is free
Do not expect a private clinic to admit you without a prior call

What the crew does

Doctors understand basic English medical terminology; a translation app works well in practice
Examination, treatment on the spot, ECG, infusion
Admission: emergency — free to a duty hospital; planned — paid or to a private clinic
Contract, receipt and an act for your insurer, in Russian and, if needed, in English

This page is for information and does not replace a medical examination. If the condition worsens, call the crew: +7 (985) 887-82-52.

This page in Russian: Russian version.

Questions

Is emergency care really free for foreigners?

Yes, when life is at risk, in any hospital, by law. Further treatment after the threat is removed is paid unless you hold a Russian compulsory or voluntary insurance policy.

How much does a call-out cost for a foreigner?

Exactly the same as for everyone: 6,000 ₽ inside the MKAD, then by the price list. There are no separate "foreigner" prices.

Are there other language versions of the site?

English, Chinese and Arabic: skoraya-pomosh112.ru/en/, /zh/ and /ar/ — how to call, prices, payment and hospitals.