Abstract
Objective: The introduction of the State Universal Healthcare Program in Georgia has significantly increased the financial access to the urgent health services, among which are urgent neurosurgery services. The State Universal Healthcare Program covers 24 neurosurgery diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the financial accessibility to urgent neurosurgery services in Georgia. Methods: In-depth interviews with the managers and the medical personnel of the neurosurgery hospitals and direct interviews with the patients or their family members through structured questionnaires have been used. The Tbilisi University clinic, “High Technology Medical Center,” has been selected for the research. Results: The results of our research showed that the financial accessibility of health services has significantly improved after the introduction of the State Universal Healthcare Program. Howeever, the program is not financing the specific types of urgent neurosurgery services or high-technological diagnostic tests (egg. CT and MRT). The financial limit defined by the State Universal Healthcare Program for the neurosurgery care is not perceived to be sufficiently helpful. Some patients had to pay the significant amount of the cost of the medical care that negatively affects their financial situation. Conclusions: In order to increase the financial accessibility it is necessary to expand the list of urgent neurosurgical diseases covered by the State Universal Healthcare Program, and in urgent cases to finance the high-technology diagnostic tests. It is important to set acceptable financial limits for the urgent neurosurgical disease expenses so that a high cost for patients is avoided.
Highlights
It is very important for states to ensure the equal financial access to medical services
The aim of the present study is to investigate the financial accessibility to urgent neurosurgical disease services forthe beneficiaries covered by The State Universal Healthcare program
The research results showed that the list of the urgent neurosurgical diseases covered by the State Universal Healthcare Program is very limited, and this list does not include diseases such as arteriovenous malformation in brain, brain and spinal tumors, discogenic radiculopathy and pathological fractures of spine
Summary
It is very important for states to ensure the equal financial access to medical services. The financial obstacles negatively affect people’s health Minimizing these barriers is one of the main tasks of the healthcare system. From September 1, 2012 on, the government extended the state-funded health insurance to an additional target population of one million people (retirementage population, students, children of 0-5 years of age and children of 0-18 years of age with disabilities). This numbertogether with that of the already insured populations by the state, accounts for the 50.8% of Georgia’s population (2). An annual financial limit (15000 GEL) for scheduled hospital health services (more than 450 urgent inpatient services, including 24 neurosurgery diseases) has been defined (4)
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