Effectiveness of mobile health units in the primary health care system (example of the Moscow Oblast)

Aim . To assess the effectiveness of mobile health units (MHUs) in the Moscow Oblast's primary health care system for 2024-2025 and identify the main related management and technical issues. Material and methods . This retrospective analysis of operational and statistical data on 84 MHUs in the Moscow Oblast was conducted for the period January 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Data for the first nine months of 2024 and 2025 were compared. MHUs were classified as diagnostic and treatment-and-preventive. The number of field visits, the scope of preventive examinations, the number of fluorography and mammography procedures performed, the population coverage, and downtime reasons were assessed. Descriptive and analytical statistics, including the Pearson χ² test, two-proportion Z-test, and effect size calculation (Cohen's d) were used. The critical significance level was α=0,01. Results . Over the first nine months of 2025, MHUs made 8 738 field visits and provided care to 204 179 people. This exceeds results for the first nine months of 2024 by 32,4% and 37,9% in terms of visit count and number of patients served, respectively. A significant increase in the scope of preventive and diagnostic services was noted. The only parameter showing a decrease was influenza vaccination (-28,9%). Conclusion . MHUs are an effective tool for increasing the accessibility of primary health care in the Moscow Oblast, providing a significant increase in scope of preventive examinations and X-ray investigations for residents of remote and small communities. At the same time, the identified technical and management barriers leading to downtime of some MHUs require targeted management solutions to fully realize their potential at the regional level.