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Protection of personal data of foreign patients
- Authors: Platonov I.N.1, Shunaev A.M.2, Ovsyannikov R.Y.2, Dobretsova E.A.3
- Affiliations:
- First Saint Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I. P. Pavlov, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg State University of Economics, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Issue: No 2 (2026)
- Pages: 150-155
- Section: Articles
- URL: https://remedium-journal.ru/journal/article/view/1918
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.32687/1561-5936-2026-30-2-150-155
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Abstract
This article examines the protection of foreign patients' personal data amid the rapidly expanding export of medical services in the Russian Federation. Using St. Petersburg as an example, a retrospective analysis of the dynamics of foreign citizens' requests for medical care from 2018 to 2024 was conducted, revealing a nearly threefold increase in their number. The country breakdown of patients was examined, revealing a predominance of citizens from the CIS and neighboring countries. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of Russian national legislation and international legal frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, and PIPL) governing the processing and cross-border transfer of medical personal data. Key issues related to information security in medicine are identified, including the risks of leaks and the need to harmonize Russian and international regulations. Therefore, the need for a comprehensive approach combining improved legal frameworks for data protection with the development of organizational security mechanisms is substantiated, a key condition for the sustainable development of medical tourism.
About the authors
Igor N. Platonov
First Saint Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I. P. Pavlov, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Email: platonov.igor@mail.ru
Alexey M. Shunaev
Saint Petersburg State University of Economics, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Email: shunaev-alexis@ya.ru
Roman Yu. Ovsyannikov
Saint Petersburg State University of Economics, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Email: r.ovsyannikov@academprofi.ru
Elena A. Dobretsova
Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Email: eldobretsova@gmail.com
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