Feldsher in Russia: history of the issue and the present

Every year in Russia on February 21, one of the medical holidays is celebrated — the Feldsher Day. Primary pre-medical health care (PHC) to the population is provided by mid-level specialists, i.e. feldshers and obstetricians, at feldsher stations, feldsher-midwife stations, etc. 8. The article reveals the historical and medical aspects of the formation and modern development of the activities of feldshers — exclusive in their kind «authorized representatives» of Russian health care, whose professional functioning is a fairly significant component in primary health care to the population, especially in rural areas. The article discusses the pressing topical issues of integrated vocational training and professional retraining of feldshers on the agenda, as well as aspects of increasing the prestige of the feldsher profession and improving the personnel situation in addition to the «Zemsky feldsher» program. On the basis of the conducted sociological research, the author revealed that in order to ensure the high qualifications of feldshers, the modernization of the advanced training system and the settlement of the current provisions of standardization in accordance with the modern needs of practical health care are becoming even more urgent.