Ukrainian President signs medical reform
During a working trip to the Odessa region, President Petro Poroshenko signed two bills to launch medical reform: one on improving the accessibility and quality of medical care in rural areas, and a second on government financial guarantees for the provision of medical services and medicines.
At the same time, he stressed that the decision on the bill on state guarantees was not easy for him.
"For me as president, this decision is not easy. But nevertheless, I decided to sign it. And in signing it, I support the need for reform in the healthcare system, the importance of respecting the right of every Ukrainian citizen to quality medical care," he said.
At the same time, he ordered the government to develop a set of measures that would prevent the violation of this right in connection with reform.
"We must be careful when calculating tariffs. We must be very careful with government expenditures to avoid being in a situation where there is nothing to give. It is imperative to ensure at the legislative level that the adopted bill does not in any case worsen the state of medical care for Ukrainians ", explained Poroshenko.
On October 19, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill No. 6327, which was a key component in healthcare reform. It introduces state guarantees for the payment of medical services and medicines provided to patients at the expense of the state budget, on the basis of the "money goes to the patient" principle.
In particular, the bill introduces the concept of a "state guaranteed package" - a certain volume of medical services and medicines that the state undertakes to pay at a pre-established single tariff, to be approved annually by the Cabinet. State financial guarantees will be granted, regardless of any additional criteria, to all citizens of Ukraine, as well as those who are registered as taxpayers in Ukraine.
On November 14, another bill from this package was passed, No. 7117, on improving the accessibility and quality of medical care in rural areas. The document proposes to establish a system of incentives in order to attract qualified specialists to work in rural areas; in particular, providing workers with housing and service transport and opportunities for obtaining education and further training, as well as creating favorable working conditions, such as including developed materials and a technical base for medical care.