Russia: Fuel vouchers are offered in exchange for fertility consultations
Residents of Naryan-Mar, northern Russia, are being offered fuel vouchers worth 1,000 roubles (€11) if they undergo reproductive health checks and family planning consultations at the local hospital. The initiative comes as fuel shortages continue to affect several regions across Russia.
Women who attend a gynaecological consultation and receive advice on family planning are eligible for the voucher, while men are offered the same reward after visiting a urologist and undergoing a reproductive health assessment.
The campaign, titled "One Day for Family Health," is being organised by the Nenets District Hospital. It is open to men and women aged between 18 and 49. According to the hospital, the examination is free under Russia's compulsory health insurance system and can be completed in a single visit.
Each participant receives a fuel card worth 1,000 roubles (€11), redeemable for petrol. The promotion will run until 21 August 2026, or until the supply of vouchers is exhausted.
As of 17 July, the hospital said 91 people had taken part in the programme, including 53 men and 38 women.
The hospital describes the fuel voucher as an additional incentive to encourage people to undergo reproductive health screening. To increase participation, it has also introduced Saturday appointments and regularly publishes a "health counter" tracking the number of participants.
The campaign comes amid ongoing fuel shortages in several parts of Russia.
In Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, both AI-92 and AI-95 petrol virtually disappeared from Lukoil filling stations in early July. After around 20 filling stations operated by other companies also closed, motorists queued at the few stations that remained open.
In Vologda Oblast, petrol sales were temporarily restricted to 30 litres per customer, while filling portable fuel cans was prohibited. Governor Georgy Filimonov urged residents not to stockpile fuel before later revealing that his own official vehicle had broken down after running out of petrol.
The Arkhangelsk region has also experienced supply disruptions. Long queues formed at filling stations in Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk, while in the Pinega district the remaining petrol stations temporarily served only buses and emergency vehicles. In the Onega district, passenger ferry services were reduced because of diesel shortages, and in the Leshukonsky district petrol prices reportedly climbed to 150 roubles (€1,67) per litre.
The fuel shortages have coincided with Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and continuing logistical difficulties in delivering fuel to remote regions of the country.
