Is there a place for the patient in the Ukrainian health care system? Patient payment policies and investment priorities in health care in Ukraine

Andriy Danyliv (), Tetiana Stepurko, Irena Gryga, Milena Pavlova and Wim Groot
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Andriy Danyliv: National University of ‘Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’ School of Public Health Kyiv Ukraine
Tetiana Stepurko: National University of ‘Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’ School of Public Health Kyiv Ukraine
Irena Gryga: National University of ‘Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’ School of Public Health Kyiv Ukraine
Wim Groot: Maastricht University Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Center, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences Maastricht The Netherlands.

Society and Economy, 2012, vol. 34, issue 2, 273-291

Abstract: The principle of free-of-charge health care services is written in the Ukrainian Constitution. However, the state fails to implement this principle in practice. Our analysis confirms that in spite of the proclaimed free-of-charge health care services, many Ukrainian patients pay for health care services and these payments are considerable. As much as 57% and 73% of patients using out-patient and in-patient services respectively reported having spent money for this. Among those who paid for health care services, the average annual expenditure is 636 UAH for out-patient services and 2,019 UAH for hospital services. Patients who paid formally on average spent 555 UAH for out-patient services per year, while those who paid informally, spent about 337 UAH. This unregulated patient payment system is a threat to the population’s health as it prevents many patients from obtaining the health care that they need. Hence, the current’ free-of-charge’ system does not work properly and cannot sustain the health of the nation any more. There is a need for a thoroughly designed official and transparent payment system as well as structural financial reforms.

Keywords: patient payments; health care priorities; Ukraine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I11 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
Note: The study is financed by the European Commission under FP7 Theme 8 Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities, Project ASSPRO CEE 2007 (GA no. 217431). The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the authors and it in no way represents the views of the Commission or its services.
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