The museum is located in the historical center of St. Petersburg on the territory and in the buildings of the former Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment. The museum collection originates from the first medical collections of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. It is one of the largest in the world in terms of the wealth of funds (more than 450 thousand exhibits), reflecting the main stages of the formation and development of Russian medicine and the contribution of its outstanding representatives to the world treasury of science. The collection contains works of fine art, medical instruments, medicines, uniforms of civilian and military doctors, items of military medical supplies, decrees, atlases, medical books, more than 300 personal funds of prominent figures in medicine and natural science, including V.M. Bekhterev, S.P. Botkin, I.I. Mechnikov, I.P. Pavlov, N.I. Pirogov, I.M. Sechenov and others, as well as an extensive photo library. The museum halls display paintings by famous artists V.L. Borovikovsky, I.E. Repin, works by outstanding sculptors M.K. Anikushin, M.M. Antokolsky, V.I. Mukhina, as well as the "Anatomical Atlas" by G. Bidloo, which the first Russian doctors of the 18th century studied from.

Today, the museum hosts an exhibition "Medicine of Russia and St. Petersburg", a permanent exhibition "Humanite Weapons of Victory" dedicated to the selfless work of Soviet military doctors during the Great Patriotic War, and a Children's Center is also open. A whole range of programs designed for children and school audiences (the programs "Entertaining Medicine", "Entertaining Anatomy"), focused on the patriotic education of the younger generation, have been developed for visitors.

The Regional Public Organization "St. Petersburg Scientific Society of Historians of Medicine" operates on the basis of the institution.