Analysis of Trends in the Development of Availability of Medical Services for Rural Population

Abstract

The article summarizes the arguments and counter-arguments within the scientific discussion on the availability of medical services for the rural population. The main purpose of the study is to analyze the current principles of state policy of Ukraine in the field of health and accessibility and quality of health care in rural areas. Systematization of literature sources and approaches to solving the problem of access to health services has shown that many problematic issues in the field of access to health services in rural areas in Ukraine and around the world, related to investment, personnel management and effective government regulation. The urgency of solving this scientific problem is that medical care should be provided in all regions and agglomerations of the country equally effectively and focus on patient requests. The study of the availability of medical care in rural areas in the article is carried out in the following logical sequence: bibliometric analysis of research, the next step is a survey of consumers of medical services on the basis of the district hospital; analysis of the results of the survey of respondents; providing guidance on key health issues and areas. The methodological tools of the study were survey methods and expert assessments, comparative and bibliometric analysis, the study period was chosen 2011-2021. The object of the study was the Sumy Central District Clinical Hospital, as it provides services to patients living in rural areas. The study empirically confirms and theoretically proves that there are problems with having a family doctor in families, as 1% of respondents indicated that they do not have a family doctor and have not consulted him, while more than half of respondents are satisfied with the result of a doctor’s visit, however, a significant share did not indicate the exact answer, which gives reason to think about the existing problems that led to such results. The results of the study can be useful for further research and recommendations for future opportunities to effectively influence the development of access to health services in rural areas and at the same time improve and enhance the quality of services provided in cities.