Medical certificates for preschoolers and schoolchildren in 2024: how to apply and what you need to know
10 August 2024 05:16
This summer, changes were made to the organisation of medical examinations of children for their enrolment in educational institutions, including schools and kindergartens, as well as children’s health and recreation facilities, which were approved by the relevant order of the Ministry of Health No. 1351. These changes relate primarily to the procedure for obtaining medical certificates required for enrolment in educational institutions of all levels, i.e. for admission to kindergartens and schools.
So, what has changed and how to obtain medical certificates for preschoolers and schoolchildren in 2024 – read the article "Komersant Ukrainian"
The procedure for obtaining certificates for enrolment in educational institutions has been updated
Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko has announced the approval of a single form of medical certificate for enrolling a child in educational institutions of all levels, which will now be issued by a family doctor. That is, while previously it was necessary to be examined by several specialist doctors, spend several hours in queues and receive certificates of various forms to obtain a medical certificate, now a family doctor will issue a unified certificate No. 086/о “Medical certificate (extract from the medical record of an outpatient)” for a child to enter an educational institution.
Thus, in order to enrol a child in a kindergarten or school in 2024, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination by a family doctor.
The examination includes taking anamnesis, a full physical examination, checking for signs of acute or chronic diseases, as well as measuring height and weight, examining visual acuity, hearing (whispering), posture and plantography. If any abnormalities or diseases are detected, the child will be referred to a specialist doctor.
In addition, a dental examination is mandatory before entering kindergarten and school.
It should be noted that in order to obtain a medical certificate, the child must be vaccinated in accordance with the National Vaccination Schedule.
The child can undergo a medical examination at any convenient time during the year and the results of this examination remain valid for a year from the date of its completion. It is also worth noting that medical certificates issued before 1 October 2023 remain valid for a year.
Medical examinations for enrolment of a child in vocational, professional higher education, higher education or other educational institutions are conducted only if required by the educational institution itself or specified in the terms of admission. This allows parents and students to plan the medical examination process without reference to a specific period of the year, providing flexibility in enrolment in educational institutions.
Annual medical examination of schoolchildren: what has changed in 2024?
In 2024, the need to undergo mandatory preventive medical examinations for students of secondary education institutions, which are carried out in accordance with Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 31, remains. After the medical examination, students will also be issued a certificate in the form No. 086/о “Medical certificate (extract from the medical record of an outpatient)”.
During the annual medical examination, doctors conduct a detailed examination of students, assess their health status, determine the group for physical education classes and, if necessary, provide recommendations for additional examinations and treatment. Doctors can also give advice on preventive vaccinations, nutrition and other measures to maintain students’ health.
It is worth noting that annual medical examinations do not have to be conducted before the start of the school year. This allows parents and students to plan visits to medical institutions at a time convenient for them, reducing the burden on healthcare institutions during the period of preparation for the school year.
In addition, it is important to recall that the order of the Ministry of Health No. 682, which regulated medical care for students of secondary schools and provided for mandatory fluoroscopy for children aged 14, 15, 16 and 17, as well as examinations by a number of specialists (paediatric surgeon, orthopaedic traumatologist, ophthalmologist, dentist, etc.) at the age of 6, 11, 14 and 15, has been cancelled.
Viktor Lyashko emphasised the importance of the changes, stating:
“The Ministry of Health clearly opposes sitting in queues in the summer to get a piece of paper for kindergarten or school, against examinations conducted by doctors in a hurry because there are 50 other patients in line for certificates, against mass referrals for fluorography just because a child has turned 14, 15, 16 or 17 years old, because it is required by order. That is why we have cancelled such morally outdated regulations. Instead, we are building a new prevention system that focuses on the real needs of each child, not on formal papers for the school.”
Thus, the changes introduced in 2024 are aimed at optimising the process of medical examinations for schoolchildren and preschoolers, providing convenience for parents and reducing the burden on healthcare facilities.
In particular, the introduction of the unified medical certificate No. 086/о simplifies the process of processing documents for enrolment in educational institutions.
Other important changes include the abolition of outdated regulations, such as mandatory fluoroscopies and visits to certain specialist doctors at a certain age.
The introduction of these changes in the healthcare sector emphasises an individual approach to the health of each child and is intended to facilitate the process of medical examinations required for admission to educational institutions.
Author: Olya Yushko
