September 1, 2025
The Russian Ministry of Health updated its list of medical contraindications for driving on September 1st, though Assistant Minister of Health Alexey Kuznetsov clarified that no significant, large-scale changes have been introduced. Serious vision impairments and certain mental illnesses have long been recognized as reasons preventing individuals from operating vehicles.
The updated list has been brought into alignment with the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Kuznetsov reiterated that the fundamental principles remain the same: conditions like severe vision issues and specific psychological disorders were already considered contraindications prior to this revision.
Key Updates to the List
Previously, the list of vision-related contraindications primarily focused on total blindness in both eyes and achromatopsia (total color blindness). The revised list now includes:
- Acquired color vision deficiency
- Various forms of color blindness (daltonism)
Furthermore, the updated regulations now explicitly incorporate a broader category of general psychological development disorders. According to the international classification, this section includes:
- Childhood autism
- Atypical autism
- Rett syndrome
- Asperger`s syndrome
- Heller`s syndrome (disintegrative disorder)
These additions aim to ensure that the medical requirements for drivers are comprehensive and reflect current international standards in healthcare classification.
