Availability of healthcare services as the basis for social protection of population

Abstract

Public health protection in modern conditions is one of the main factors of socio-economic development of all countries of the world. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires an urgent solving the problems of universal healthcare coverage. In this regard, it is necessary to monitor the quality and accessibility of health care in two important aspects: health services coverage and financial protection in health care. Based on the materials of sample statistical and sociological surveys, comparative analysis, the article examines the issues of households' satisfaction with the quality and availability of medical services, possibility of using remote medical consultations, and availability of paid medical services. The reasons for dissatisfaction with the quality of health care were identified: dissatisfaction with the work of district doctors, shortage of medical specialists, long waiting time for an appointment. The dependence of the availability of remote medical services on the ability to pay, age composition and place of residence of the population is revealed. This study creates the preconditions for refining the strategy in the field of health protection concerning the issues of financing medical services for certain socially unprotected segments of the population by expanding the compulsory health insurance program for provision of primary health care by non-governmental medical organizations, including use of telemedicine. It is advisable to control the approach to the critical level of financial expenditures of the family budgets of various households on payment for medical services through regular monitoring of the availability of medical services. It is proposed to expand the scope of professional liability insurance for doctors and medical workers, develop professional standards and ethical principles for conducting medical activities. Implementation of the proposed measures will reduce the "catastrophic expenses" from family budgets of households for paying for health care, will contribute to increasing life expectancy of the Russian population and create conditions for economic growth.