Ukraine parliament adopts medical reform package

Ukraine’s parliament voted on Oct. 19 to approve a legislative package introducing the country’s largest attempt at structural reform of its medical sector. Its key changes involve ceasing to finance hospitals and clinics based on number of seats, and financing based on number of medical services provided. That is intended to increase competition between medical institutions as their state support, including salaries and compensation, will now depend on the number of patients treated. Meanwhile, patients will have access to a predetermined list of free guaranteed medical services and pharmaceuticals, as opposed to current conditions in which most services are free, but only on a de facto basis.

Alexander Paraschiy: The key difference of this reform from most of those implemented in recent years is that it was initiated by the Ukrainian government without any prodding from Ukraine’s international financial partners. In particular, it was spearheaded by Ulana Suprun, the health minister who is a native of the U.S., whose Western experience enabled her to identify and pursue the key reforms that were needed, despite much opposition.

So the Ukrainian government’s Western integration, which includes close cooperation with Western professionals, is paying off for the public. The medical reform was also actively promoted by Ukraine’s civil society and NGO community, which has matured to the extent that it plays a key role in promoting and approving reform legislation.