The state and private sector of health care system of The Russian Federation: From competition to integration and partnership

Abstract

The private health care sector in the Russian Federation is developing and its role in providing not only paid, but also free medical care is increasing. The issues of cooperation between state and private health sectors becomes more actual. The purpose of the study is to investigate current research and practical issues of private health care in the Russian Federation and to identify shared and specific problems with state sector and to develop proposals for evolution of intersectorial interaction and partnership. The study used analytical, sociological and statistical methodologies. The sociological survey covered 409 executives of state and private medical organizations. It was established that current and prospective research and practical problems of state and private health care are mostly shared. The statistically significant differences in opinions of respondents were determined. The list of most actual research and practical problems of private health care was composed. The commonality of derived valuations confirmed trend to integration. The identified sporadic differences are explained by greater social orientation of state health care and directness on competition of private health care. The generalization of national and foreign experience permitted to formulate proposals on partnership between state and private health care. The trend to integration of state and private health care can be transformed into active process of development of long-term partnership cooperation in health recovery and maintenance that will result in ensuring active longevity of population of the Russian Federation.