HEALTH CARE IN COVID-19 ENVIRONMENT: QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL VENTILATORS BY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ENTITIES

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to comprehend the functioning of the institute of public health in a pandemic and to conduct a research analysis of the opinions and judgments of medical workers and patients using medical ventilation devices. The national health care system faces a global challenge associated with the spread of COVID-19, which has exposed problem areas in its functioning, one of which is the quality and reliability of medical equipment. Medical ventilators are of vital importance, because their availability and quality determine the recovery of patients and their return to a familiar way of life. Ventilators are used in intensive care units and wards for treatment of severe complications of coronavirus infection. The main subjects of the health care system were interviewed using the semi-formalized interview method: doctors (n = 32) and patients (n = 16). The survey results showed that the quality of Russian devices requires significant improvement (oxygen tubes and flow sensors), and the main measures to improve the quality of medical care using ventilators are not only buying of imported medical equipment, but also strengthening quality control of domestic devices and creating real competitive environment of Russian manufacturers. In the context of the "new normalcy" on the Russian market of ventilators, it’s possible to transit from an import-oriented model to a national-state model with a significant proportion of medical products manufactured by Russian companies.