Департамент научно-технологической политики и образования Федеральное государственное бюджетное научное учреждение «Российский научно-исследовательский институт информации и технико-экономических исследований по инженерно-техническому обеспечению агропромышленного комплекса»

Background: According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, the bodies and institutions of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) shall carry out sanitary and epidemiological surveillance over the sanitary protection districts of natural curative resources, health and recreational areas, mountain and spa resorts. The specified districts are statutory and use-restricted zones. They are designated for protection and preservation of natural curative resources and resort areas. The purpose of the study was to elaborate approaches to organization of effective sanitary and epidemiological surveillance over the sanitary protection districts. Material and methods: We analyzed data collected by the Laboratory for Resort Resources of the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers, results of our own surveys of mineral water deposits, therapeutic mud sites, and resort areas carried out when designing districts, and data on the districts established in the Russian Federation. In addition, we have reviewed legislative and regulatory requirements for establishment and surveillance of environmental conditions in such districts. Results and discussion: Difficulties in executing sanitary and epidemiological control (surveillance) over the districts are related to the lack of an up-to-date legal framework for the districts or general access to the data on their boundaries, the obsolete nature of programs (plans) of sanitary and recreational activities, a wide variety of controlled activities and objects, etc. Conclusion: In order to organize effective sanitary and epidemiological control over the districts, it is important to review and approve a set of regulatory documents and guidelines developed in 2017–2020 by the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers. Besides, it is essential to rank objects of governmental supervision, to develop electronic databases on the controlled objects for each district, and to collaborate with the bodies of the Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service (Rosprirodnadzor) and other state control bodies in conducting scheduled inspections. It is also necessary to conduct sanitary and epidemiological expert examinations, surveys, studies, tests, and other types of assessments, involving accredited experts and expert organizations.