SDG 3 and financing instruments in Austria and Ukraine: Challenges and perspectives

Mario Situm,Yuliіa Serpeninova,Alex Plastun,Giuseppe Sorrentino,Inna Makarenko

doi:10.21511/ppm.19(3).2021.11

Abstract

This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the SDG in healthcare achievement in Austria and Ukraine and to determine possible lessons for Ukraine based on best EU and world experiences. To identify existing challenges and perspectives a comparative analysis of key indicators of healthcare expenditures and health financing systems in Austria and Ukraine was carried out. Results indicate that in Ukraine there is a substantial lack of public funding for healthcare (only 682 US dollars per capita in 2018), a poor share of voluntary health insurance (less than 1%), significant amounts (on average 50%) of expenditures of the population in general spending on health. On the contrary, in Austria, there is sufficient public funding for healthcare (5,879 US dollars per capita in 2018), more than 5% share of voluntary health insurance, moderate amounts (on average 25%) of expenditures of the population in general spending on health. Austria’s experience as an EU-member country with a successful example of a financing strategy for the healthcare system is a sound example for Ukraine. The alternative financing tools (e.g. result-based financing, impact investment, public-private partnership) can be used as an additional financing mechanism of healthcare funding in Ukraine. The use of these instruments along with the improvement of the fiscal policy, social security, and governance based on Austrian experience can cut the existing financing gap to achieve SDG targets in healthcare in Ukraine. AcknowledgmentThis study is financed equally by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Highlights

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages” has the central place among other SDGs and intensive consideration of the SDG 3 targets is relevant because their achievement is considered crucial to be able to achieve other SDG targets as well (Guégan et al, 2018; Nunes et al, 2016)
This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the SDG in healthcare achievement in Austria and Ukraine and to determine possible lessons for Ukraine based on best EU and world experiences
National SDG 3 targets and indicators in Austria fully correspond to the global ones

Summary

Introduction

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages” has the central place among other SDGs and intensive consideration of the SDG 3 targets is relevant because their achievement is considered crucial to be able to achieve other SDG targets as well (Guégan et al, 2018; Nunes et al, 2016). The World Health Organization (2020b) reports that access to health services improved from 2000 to 2017, with the strongest increase in low-and lower-middle-income countries. The global COVID-19 pandemic caused many new challenges to overcome and pose a huge risk of global health targets’ achievement (Lee & Kim, 2021). Access to new technologies and knowledge and innovative development of healthcare institutions are important to achieve SDG 3 successfully (Grynko et al, 2020). The required amount to achieve the SDG 3 targets by 2030 is estimated at an additional US$371 billion per year; even with projected growth in health spending, the funding gap at US$20-US$54 billion per year still would remain (United Nations Development Programme, 2020)

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion