Today, by law, minors have the right to undergo medical examinations, including preventive medical examinations, in connection with physical education and sports, and to undergo medical examinations. At the same time, the Ministry of Health approved the Procedure for conducting preventive medical examinations of minors, according to which, during the first 6 years of life, a child must be periodically and repeatedly examined (depending on age) by specialist doctors such as a pediatrician, neurologist, pediatric surgeon, pediatric dentist, orthopedic traumatologist, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, psychiatrist, pediatric endocrinologist, and other specialists.
In addition, tests may be required if necessary. Data on preventive examinations of children are entered into the examination card. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor determines the child’s health group and physical education medical group. A copy of the inspection card is needed, in particular, for further submission to educational organizations.
It is clear that children cannot go to the doctor alone; they need to be accompanied by adults. As a rule, mothers go to clinics with their children.
Furthermore, parents have the right to give their voluntary and informed consent to medical intervention or to refuse it in relation to their child.
The Labour Code (LC) now provides workers with guarantees when they undergo a medical examination, in the form of the right to be released from work while maintaining the worker’s place of work (position) and average earnings. The number and frequency of such “dispensation” days depend on the age of the employee.
But there are no norms in the Labor Code that would allow a working woman with a preschool child, if necessary, to take one or two working days off to accompany the child when he or she undergoes a medical examination. In addition, not all necessary medical specialists work or are available on weekends. Therefore, as one of the authors of the bill, the head of the Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, Yaroslav Nilov, explains, it is proposed to supplement Chapter 41 of the Labor Code with an article according to which a woman who has a child under the age of seven, upon written application, is provided with an additional paid day off once every two months. Payment for such days off should be made in the amount of average earnings, and the schedule for their provision is agreed upon by the employee and the employer.
