Most Russian physicians (52.8%) support the suspension of ICD-11 implementation in the country, according to a survey conducted by the RNC Pharma analyst company and the Medvestnik platform for doctors. In particular, 34.4% fully support the suspension, believing that a number of ICD-11 sections promote the LGBT agenda and contradict medical science. Another 18.4%, while saying that the suspension of ICD-11 in its current form may be appropriate, believe that the implementation can be resumed provided that the controversial sections are excluded.

Meanwhile, 36% do not think the implementation should have been suspended. In particular, 27.2% of the respondents object the suspension, believing that politics should not interfere with medicine; another 8.8% are concerned that the refusal will make it difficult to exchange experience and work within international programs. Interestingly, there were statistically significant gender differences—most female respondents fully supported the suspension (39.3%), while the male physicians objected it (37.3%).

Finally, 10.4% of the study participants believe that the Russian healthcare system faces more pressing problems that require prompt solutions. Those who chose to give their own answer note that assigning diagnosis codes is inconvenient when working with ICD-11, which is why they are against the implementation.

Fig. Do you support Russia’s refusal to implement ICD-11? (single-answer question)