The principles of the social protection of the population in Russia began to take shape in the late 10th century, along with the adoption, in 988, of Christianity in Russia. The modern history of institutions of medico-social examination began on 27 April 1918 when the people’s Commissariat of public scorn was transformed into the Commissariat of social security, and began the formation of the medical labor commissions of the predecessors of the modern institutions of medico-social examination. Thus, the system of medico-social expertise of the Russian Federation in 2017 has reached the age of 99. As the formation and development of the social insurance, social welfare and health care and improved system of medical-social expertise, strengthen its scientific base. Currently, medical-social examination has formed in a special branch of scientific knowledge and practical activities. The way of the development, passed by the medical-social examination starting from the medical-labor expertise, creation, formation and development of the medical-social examination on the entire territory of Russia can be divided into a number of stages determined by peculiarities of its political and socio-economic status.