Health Care in Rural Areas in Ukraine: Current Business Processes and Prospects

Abstract

The pandemic period showed uneven access of the population to quality medical care. The rural population was the most vulnerable. Accordingly, the study’s primary purpose is to determine the level of satisfaction of the rural population with the quality and accessibility of medical services (for example, the rural population of Sumy City Council), establish сausal link, and develop recommendations for improving health care in rural areas. The meta-analysis, as well as patient surveys, were used as methodological tools in the study. The sources of information were the legislative framework in health care and survey results. The study results showed that 79.4% of respondents in the area of residence could receive medical care at a medical assistant and obstetric center or hospital. For most respondents (88.5%), getting to a medical institution is not a problem. After all, they spend no more than 40 minutes on the road. However, some patients need to travel by train, which reduces their satisfaction with the facility’s location. 91.5% of respondents turn to family doctors. 69% of them are satisfied with the quality of medical services. Nevertheless, it is necessary to pay attention to the following problems: 1) the required services were not provided; 2) the doctor was not present; 3) uncomfortable conditions. It will help to increase the level of patient satisfaction. The causal link of the low level of accessibility of the rural population to quality medical care was built using the obtained results. In general, the study results helped highlight the problems in medical services organizations to the people in rural areas. Understanding these issues allows finding the best ways to solve them, which will help strengthen health care in general. Accordingly, the authors identified the most promising areas for forming the regulatory framework for health care. It also reaffirmed the need to focus on the digitalization of health care. As for now, it is a global trend. Digitalization in health care will create more favorable conditions to ensure equal access of all populations to quality health services. The authors’ findings can be used to develop and implement measures to increase the availability of health services for the rural population at the state level.