Economic justification of the health sector reform in post-socialist countries and their experience appropriateness for Ukraine

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 140, Issue 3-4(2), Pages: 19-22

Citation information:
Golovanovа, I., & Krasnovа, O. (2014). Economic justification of the health sector reform in post-socialist countries and their experience appropriateness for Ukraine. Economic Annals-XXI, 3-4(2), 19-22. https://ea21journal.world/index.php/ea-v140-05/

Iryna Golovanovа
D.Sc. (Medical Sciences),
Professor,
Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy
23 Shevchenko Str., Poltava, 36011, Ukraine
yaryna.ua@mail.ru

Oksana Krasnovа
Post-Graduate Student,
Poltava National Pedagogical University named after V. G. Korolenko
2 Ostrohradskyi Str., Poltava, 36000, Ukraine
krasnova-o@mail.ua

Economic justification of the health sector reform in post-socialist countries and their experience appropriateness for Ukraine

Abstract. Introduction. The problem public health services reforming necessity in Ukraine now has a special urgency. In the decision of this question Experience of the EU countries, such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria can assist Ukraine to solve this issue, because they also have transited from the state model of public health services to the system of insurance medicine. The comparative analysis of the post-socialist countries public health services systems development will help to introduce in Ukraine the similar changes in the system of public health services to those proved their efficiency in the countries with transitive economy. Purpose. In the article principles of public health services reforming in Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, and certain experience which would be useful to Ukraine are analyzed. Prospects and mechanisms of obligatory medical insurance introduction in Ukraine taking into account foreign practice are considered. The methods of a content analysis and deductive comprehension, the structural-logic analysis are used. Results. The post-socialist countries Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria have passed a difficult way of reforming. Today in these countries the social insurance system of public health services is implemented. It is financed at the expense of businessmen target payments, hired workers and state grants. Medical services are also paid for by the public health services fund which is independent from the state, but operates within the limits of the legislation. Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria have the general lines, namely: participation of the state in financing of medical branch and the control over legislation observance in public health services sphere, additional sources of financing of public health services, the system of voluntary health insurance expansion, development the system of doctors of general practice, and the reimbursement system. Mentioned EU countries differ from Ukraine where the state system of the public health services financing exists, whereas in the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria – social insurance system. In the countries of Eastern Europe patients have the right to a free choice of the doctor. In Ukraine the territorial-local principle acts. Also, there is no uniform medical information system in our country. In Ukraine, unlike Europe, till now there is no such form of medical insurance, as CHI. Discussion. Considering the experience of the Slavic countries on the public health services insurance financing system introduction, we may say that in Ukraine it is necessary to develop the program of medical insurance system creation taking into account specificity of existing conditions. To Ukraine, the budgetary-insurance model is comprehensible. The budget and fund of social medical insurance could become the financing sources in this model. However, in transition to budgetary-insurance model, its financing can be insufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to involve additional sources: the means arriving from rendering of paid medical services, means of voluntary medical insurance and the receipts received on the basis of the charitable help. Conclusion. To increase efficiency of the public health services system functioning in Ukraine, it is necessary to carry out reforms which would cover both management of this system, and medical services financing and granting. Introduction of obligatory medical insurance without corresponding preconditions creation would lead to increase of medical services costs, tax pressure on workers and employers.

Keywords: Healthcare; Medical Insurance; Healthcare Reform; Obligatory Medical Insurance

JEL Classification: G22; H51; I18

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Received 23.02.2014