Проблемы медицинского обслуживания в сельской местности

Abstract

This article is dedicated to studying the problems faced by rural inhabitants in need of healthcare. Its results allow for broadening one’s perspective when it comes to the differences and accessibility of free and paid healthcare for the rural population. Analysis is based on data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey – Higher School of Economics (RLMS-HSE). The results of the study show that rural healthcare is defined by ineffective preventive measures, considerable inaccessibility, and low quality medical treatment. Rural inhabitants constantly have to deal with a lack of medical facilities, doctors and other medical personnel, medical materials and equipment, as well as medications. The situation is especially complicated in small settlements and villages located in remote and hard to reach areas. Elder villagers, who tend to need health care the most, are especially vulnerable. Villagers are more frequently forced to resort to paid healthcare, while continuing to spend a considerable amount of money on medications not only for preventing disease or treatment at home, but also for being treated in medical facilities. Nowadays the most in demand paid healthcare services are those provided by dentists. There has been a marked increase in legal payments, while the proportion of shadow payments for healthcare services has been decreasing. The issue of providing medications to the rural population is as acute as ever, and this includes such a problem as beneficial medication provision. Inequality in resource distribution without taking into account the realities of our country prevents creating the necessary conditions for improving access to the most effective of healthcare, as well as the increase of medical treatment quality in rural areas.