Arctic medicine is sometimes associated with extreme conditions, long distances, and an underdeveloped infrastructure. However, this has not stopped the development of medical care in the region. For example, 2006 has been declared the Year of Health in Yamal, with new medical facilities under construction and another 30 at the design stage.The construction of a medical center with several standalone buildings and the necessary infrastructure, which is underway on a large area of the Tazovsky Central Regional Hospital, is to be completed by 2027. This is an article of the Arctic and Far East Development project about medical assistance for the local nomadic people, birth rate records, and work in outlying Yamal settlements.“Our annual birth rate is about 300, which is a very good figure for us. All the necessary conditions for maternity care pathways have been created in the region, and we also minimize risks during labor and delivery. This explains such good results,” Chief Physician of the Tazovsky Central Regional Hospital Eldar Faradzhev proudly said, adding that these results are also due to financial support from the governor.These daily exploits are routine work for the personnel of the Tazovsky Hospital, but some days really stand out, for example ahead of the Reindeer Herder’s Day, when priority attention is given to the region’s nomadic population. The hospital offers reindeer herders and their families preventive health checks, screening for socially significant diseases, and care for registered patients, as well as health checks for participants in sports events held during the Reindeer Herder’s Day.Eldar Faradzhev said that this is a busy time for everyone, including ENT, eye and ultrasound doctors, radiologists, endoscopists, endocrinologists and other specialists. All these services are available to the nomadic Yamal people free of charge.Nomadic people are also invited to see doctors ahead of another important holiday, the Fisherman’s Day festival celebrated in June-July. However, the number of those willing to have a medical check at that time is much smaller because many people are already working in the tundra.Health care away from the regional centerWhat if a patient lives in a location only accessible by helicopter? For example, the most distant village is located 380 kilometers from the regional center. The hospital has a special plan for providing medical care to indigenous people in the tundra.A group of doctors travels to outlying villages twice a year, in the fall and in spring, usually for preventive screening.Shift workers sometimes require medical assistance as well. Tazovsky is not only associated with boundless tundra but also with gas deposits where many professionals work. Their health is the responsibility of the regional hospital.“They sometimes fall ill and need to be taken to the central hospital for treatment. That’s why our helicopter sometimes flies to gas fields,” the chief physician said.He emphasized that there is often only one doctor in outlying medical stations, and they have to be jacks of all trade, providing therapeutic, surgical and even obstetric services.He added that the Arctic climate is not much help because the local weather is unpredictable.Medical center and the first CT scannerThe Tazovsky Hospital is preparing for major improvements in 2027. The construction of a block for 46 beds has reached the roof stage. Overall, the center will include several standalone buildings on a new land plot.According to Eldar Faradzhev, there will be an emergency department, an air medical service unit, therapeutic and surgery departments, a drugstore and pharmaceutical warehouses.“Other blocks will house maintenance and operations services, a central sterilization department, and a nutrition unit, an outpatient clinic and a children’s clinic. The surrounding territory will have a quiet zone with pedestrian crossings. And besides, we will receive a CT scanner, which the hospital does not have now,” the chief physician said in conclusion.
Arctic medicine is sometimes associated with extreme conditions, long distances, and an underdeveloped infrastructure. However, this has not stopped the development of medical care in the region. For example, 2006 has been declared the Year of Health in Yamal, with new medical facilities under construction and another 30 at the design stage.
The construction of a medical center with several standalone buildings and the necessary infrastructure, which is underway on a large area of the Tazovsky Central Regional Hospital, is to be completed by 2027. This is an article of the Arctic and Far East Development project about medical assistance for the local nomadic people, birth rate records, and work in outlying Yamal settlements.
“Our annual birth rate is about 300, which is a very good figure for us. All the necessary conditions for maternity care pathways have been created in the region, and we also minimize risks during labor and delivery. This explains such good results,” Chief Physician of the Tazovsky Central Regional Hospital Eldar Faradzhev proudly said, adding that these results are also due to financial support from the governor.
These daily exploits are routine work for the personnel of the Tazovsky Hospital, but some days really stand out, for example ahead of the Reindeer Herder’s Day, when priority attention is given to the region’s nomadic population. The hospital offers reindeer herders and their families preventive health checks, screening for socially significant diseases, and care for registered patients, as well as health checks for participants in sports events held during the Reindeer Herder’s Day.
Eldar Faradzhev said that this is a busy time for everyone, including ENT, eye and ultrasound doctors, radiologists, endoscopists, endocrinologists and other specialists. All these services are available to the nomadic Yamal people free of charge.
“Medical health checks are held in separate age groups, with the screening results analyzed and compared to information available in the medical information system. Additional appointments with doctors are offered when necessary, varying from ordinary health check to comprehensive examination and reproductive health screening,” Eldar Faradzhev explained.
Nomadic people are also invited to see doctors ahead of another important holiday, the Fisherman’s Day festival celebrated in June-July. However, the number of those willing to have a medical check at that time is much smaller because many people are already working in the tundra.
“We receive around 600 people a day on the Reindeer Herder’s Day festival. We set aside a whole week for them, adding up the statistics, which is usually around 600. The number of people we receive during the Fisherman’s Day festival is half of that, yet we offer this service to our nomadic people nevertheless,” the chief physician said.
Health care away from the regional center
What if a patient lives in a location only accessible by helicopter? For example, the most distant village is located 380 kilometers from the regional center. The hospital has a special plan for providing medical care to indigenous people in the tundra.
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Tazovsky Hospital doctors working in outlying Yamal regions
A group of doctors travels to outlying villages twice a year, in the fall and in spring, usually for preventive screening.
“We make use of air ambulance service in emergency cases. When a doctor visiting a patient in an outlying village decides that the patient should be sent to a hospital for an additional check, he writes a request and coordinates a helicopter flight from Tazovsky to the village and back to the regional center,” Faradzhev explained.
Shift workers sometimes require medical assistance as well. Tazovsky is not only associated with boundless tundra but also with gas deposits where many professionals work. Their health is the responsibility of the regional hospital.
“They sometimes fall ill and need to be taken to the central hospital for treatment. That’s why our helicopter sometimes flies to gas fields,” the chief physician said.
He emphasized that there is often only one doctor in outlying medical stations, and they have to be jacks of all trade, providing therapeutic, surgical and even obstetric services.
“They sometimes have to act as ENT specialists, removing metallic foreign bodies from the patient’s eyes, or deliver babies,” Eldar Faradzhev said.
He added that the Arctic climate is not much help because the local weather is unpredictable.
Medical center and the first CT scanner
The Tazovsky Hospital is preparing for major improvements in 2027. The construction of a block for 46 beds has reached the roof stage. Overall, the center will include several standalone buildings on a new land plot.
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Children’s clinic of the Tazovsky Central Regional Hospital in Tazovsky, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area
According to Eldar Faradzhev, there will be an emergency department, an air medical service unit, therapeutic and surgery departments, a drugstore and pharmaceutical warehouses.
“Other blocks will house maintenance and operations services, a central sterilization department, and a nutrition unit, an outpatient clinic and a children’s clinic. The surrounding territory will have a quiet zone with pedestrian crossings. And besides, we will receive a CT scanner, which the hospital does not have now,” the chief physician said in conclusion.
