Mediatory function of non-profit organizations in health care (based on interviews with leaders of public patient associations)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Russian society needs mechanisms to reduce social tension, including with the participation of the “third sector” in the implementation of its characteristic intermediary functions. Intermediaries represented by non-profit organizations (NPOs) in healthcare can become an important element in resolving social conflicts. AIM: To justifycation the the possibility of integrating mediation technologies into the activities of public organizations that protect the rights and interests of patients when receiving medical and pharmaceutical care, based on an analysis of the mediation functions they already perform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 9 in-depth interviews with leaders of NPOs that protect patients’ rights were conducted. RESULTS: One of the tasks of NPOs in healthcare is mediation between patient communities and the public health system at its various levels. CONCLUSION: NPOs in healthcare can become the subject of conflict resolution using the mediation procedure. It is proposed to expand the powers of these public associations with the function “to prevent and resolve disputes and conflicts in the field of health care” by amending paragraph 2 of Article 28 of the Federal Law of November 21, 2011 No. 323.