Controversy over autism recommendations in Russia
CSOs highlight the risks to patients posed by the submission of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) recommendations to the Russian Ministry of Health without any public consultation
18.03.2026
Article published on the ASI website
Specialist organisations and parents have reported procedural failings in the drafting of clinical ASD guidelines and are demanding an explanation.
The Russian Society of Psychiatrists (RSP) has quite unexpectedly submitted draft clinical ASD recommendations to the Ministry of Health without any public consultation. The text appeared on the Ministry’s website on which notification of such policy initiatives is routinely published.
Specialist CSOs and parent groups have highlighted a breach of existing protocol and potential risks to patients. Under current rules, such proposals must be subject to public consultation for at least 30 days, involving specialists, organisations and parents, say experts.
“As a result, the community is being denied the opportunity of influencing recommendations that affect the lives of many special needs children”, said the regional civil society body Kontakt, which provides help to children with ASD.
The organisation also reiterated that current guidelines, valid until 2027, are based on the latest scientific evidence and are already being implemented in the regions. CSOs are awaiting official clarification from the Ministry of Health.
The Autism-Regions Association (ARA) has sent a request to the Ministry, demanding an explanation for what is happening. They pointed out that notice of the new draft guidelines was published on 10th March, yet by the 12th, the document had already been sent out for peer review.
“Parents of autistic children have been asking why, particularly now, professionals and well-informed parents are being denied the right to study and publicly discuss these draft clinical recommendations. Why have they been sent out for expert review in disregard of existing procedures and principles of openness enshrined in the laws and regulations of the Russian Federation?”, said the ARA.
Activists have been very vocal on this issue, fearing that the new version may be adopted without taking the views of professionals and parents into account.
A similar situation arose back in 2024. New draft clinical proposals were published online which, at the time, were criticised by CSO specialists. Then, expert and parental communities succeeded in securing approval of the current guidelines following discussion of an alternative version put forward by the Russian Society of Psychiatrists.
