Sick leave in Tatarstan can now be closed through the MAX messenger.

      The Ministry of Health of Russia has officially allowed medical organizations to conduct assessments of temporary disability using telemedicine technologies. Residents of Tatarstan, the Moscow region, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, the Voronezh region, and the Altai Krai can now close their sick leave through the national messenger MAX. The Ministry of Health of Russia has issued clarifications that change the usual format of interaction between patients and clinics. According to the letter, medical organizations have been granted the right to conduct assessments of temporary disability using telemedicine technologies. This refers to the remote closure of sick leave — both for personal illness and for caring for a child — through the services of the national messenger MAX. Now, to confirm recovery, it is not necessary to go to the clinic in person. The functionality applies to all standard cases of disability. Sick leave that was opened due to personal illness can be completed remotely, as well as the leave for caring for a sick family member, including a child. Additionally, the norm applies to cases of quarantine and in the event of a threat of spreading dangerous diseases. The main condition for closing the sick leave remotely is the doctor's confidence in the patient's full recovery. During a telemedicine consultation via MAX, the attending physician must ensure that the citizen's ability to work has been restored and that performing work will not worsen their health condition. This information is recorded in the medical documentation, after which the doctor issues a reasoned conclusion about the absence of the need for further exemption from work. The procedure for closing the sick leave occurs only at the initiative of the attending physician. During an in-person appointment, they assess the patient's condition and, if they see such an opportunity, schedule a date and time for a video consultation in MAX. The patient receives a notification in the messenger, and a link for video communication is sent a day before the consultation. Based on the conversation, the doctor either closes the sick leave or invites the patient for a repeat in-person examination. If the doctor has doubts about the patient's condition during the video call, the sick leave will not be closed through the messenger. In such a case, the medical professional is obliged to invite the patient for an in-person appointment. As of February 2026, it is already possible to close sick leave remotely through MAX in several regions of Russia. Among the first subjects where this opportunity was launched are the Moscow region, the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug — Ugra. Following them, the service became available in the Voronezh region and the Altai Krai. In some regions, such as the Altai Krai, there are still restrictions: sick leave can only be closed remotely for caring for a sick family member or due to quarantine.