Health Insurance System Research Articles

What do people know and think about medical overuse? an online questionnaire study in Germany.

Medical overuse is defined as health care services that exceed the individual needs of patients and when the potential harms of medical interventions exceed their benefits. It has impacts on patients as well as on health care resources. To address medical overuse, it is important to understand the knowledge and experiences of overuse on the side of patients. What is the citizens' understanding of overuse? How do they assess its relevance, causes, consequences and potential solutions? A quantitative online survey was conducted. The participants were asked to state what they understand by medical overuse. Statements on causes, consequences and possible solutions were evaluated. Recruitment was carried out via a panel of a market research institute (Schlesinger Group). The survey was completed by 406 participants. In terms of age and gender, the sample corresponded to the distribution in the German population. The majority had never heard of medical overuse (58%). About 60% assumed that medical overuse means "too much medicine including overtreatment and overtesting". Medical overuse was mainly suspected for services not covered by the public health insurance system (56%), surgical interventions (45%) and medication prescriptions (37%). Reasons for medical overuse were seen in uncoordinated care and financial incentives, but also in the expectations of patients. The main problem with medical overuse was seen in rising health care costs, while harmful physical and mental consequences for patients were mentioned less often. In order to reduce medical overuse, little importance was attributed to a primary care based system or higher financial contribution of patients. Instead, stricter cost control on the side of physicians and better coordination between care providers were suggested as solutions. Differences in socio-demographic characteristics hardly showed any differences in response behavior. More than half of the respondents had never heard of medical overuse. Overuse was mainly associated with financial causes and consequences. It was not seen that overuse can be harmful for patients directly. The limited awareness of the problem of overuse probably is a barrier to tackling it effectively. Communicating the topic to the public might therefore be an effective start to mitigate medical overuse. Many citizens seem not to be familiar with the concept of medical overuse, especially not with the fact that it may directly cause harm to patients. Informing citizens about the harms of medical overuse might be helpful in mitigating it.

Risk of thrombosis, hemorrhage and leukemic transformation in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms: A nationwide longitudinal cohort study

IntroductionThere are few large-scale, population-based studies detailing the risks of thrombosis, hemorrhage, leukemic transformation in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). MethodsWe performed a nationwide longitudinal cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance System (NHIS) database. MPN patients (n = 11,991) and their 1:4 age- and sex-matched controls (n = 47,964) were enrolled. The risk of thrombosis, hemorrhage, leukemic transformation was estimated using a Cox proportional hazards regression, and stratified analyses were performed for related factors. ResultsDuring a median of 7.8 years of follow-up, 30.1 % of MPN patients (3614/11,991) and 19.0 % of the matched controls (9141/47,964) developed arterial thrombosis, 11.6 % of MPN patients (1397/11,991) and 6.4 % of the matched controls (3099/47,964) developed venous thrombosis and 18.7 % of MPN patients (2251/11,991) and 12.1 % of the matched controls (5836/47,964) developed hemorrhage. 4.9 % of MPN patients (597/11,991) and 0.1 % of matched controls (50/47,964) developed leukemia. The overall risk of developing thrombosis, hemorrhage, leukemic transformation was higher in MPN patients (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.695, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.629–1.765 for arterial thrombosis, aHR 1.963, 95 % CI: 1.838–2.096 for venous thrombosis, and aHR 1.714, 95 % CI: 1.630–1.802 for hemorrhage) than in the controls. Patients with MPNs had a 10-year cumulative incidence of leukemic transformation of 6.2 %. ConclusionThe patients with MPNs have a higher risk of thrombosis, hemorrhage, and leukemic transformation than matched controls. Strategies are warranted to reduce the risk of thrombosis, hemorrhage, and leukemic transformation in MPN patients.

The Israeli health system’s rapid responses during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic posed numerous challenges to health systems around the world. In addressing many of those challenges, Israel responded quite rapidly. While quick action is not an end in it itself, it can be important in responding to disease outbreaks. Some of Israel's rapid responses to the pandemic contributed significantly to population health and provided important learning opportunities for other countries.Main bodySome of the most prominent Israeli rapid responses were related to vaccination. Israel led the world in the pace of its initial vaccine rollout, and it was also the first country to approve and administer booster vaccines to broad segments of the population. In addition, Israeli scholars published a series of timely reports analyzing vaccination impact, which informed policy in Israel and other countries. Israel was a rapid responder in additional areas of public health. These include the partial closure of its borders, the adoption of physical distancing measures, the use of digital surveillance technology for contact tracing, the use of wastewater surveillance to monitor viral spread, and the use of vaccine certificates ("green passes") to facilitate a return to routine in the face of the ongoing pandemic. Many factors contributed to Israel's capacity to repeatedly respond rapidly to a broad array of COVID-19 challenges. These include a national health insurance system that promotes public–private coordination, a system of universal electronic health records, a high level of emergency preparedness, a culture of focusing on goal attainment, a culture of innovation, and the presence of a strong scientific community which is highly connected internationally. In addition, some of the rapid responses (e.g., the rapid initial vaccination rollout) facilitated rapid responses in related areas (e.g., the analysis of vaccination impact, the administration of boosters, and the adoption of green passes). While rapid response can contribute to population health and economic resilience, it can also entail costs, risks, and limitations. These include making decisions and acting before all the relevant information is available; deciding without sufficient consideration of the full range of possible effects, costs, and benefits; not providing enough opportunities for the involvement of relevant groups in the decision-making process; and depleting non-renewable resources.ConclusionsBased on our findings, we encourage leaders in the Israeli government to ensure that its emergency response system will continue to have the capacity to respond rapidly to large-scale challenges, whether of a military or civilian nature. At the same time, the emergency response systems should develop mechanisms to include more stakeholders in the fast-paced decision-making process and should improve communication with the public. In addition, they should put into place mechanisms for timely reconsideration, adjustment, and—when warranted—reversal of decisions which, while reasonable when reached, turn out to have been ill-advised in the light of subsequent developments and evidence. These mechanisms could potentially involve any or all branches of government, as well as the public, the press, and professional organizations. Our findings also have implications for health system leaders in other countries. The Israeli experience can help them identify key capacities to develop during non-emergency periods, thus positioning themselves to respond more rapidly in an emergency. Finally, health system leaders in other countries could monitor Israel's rapid responses to future global health emergencies and adopt selected actions in their own countries.

Analysis of Policy and Social Issues in China's Healthcare Sector

The significance of government policies on healthcare has been amplified due to the swift progress observed in China's healthcare industry. The primary objective of this study was to conduct an in-depth examination of the societal implications of China's healthcare policies, with particular emphasis on the social dimensions of the healthcare insurance system, the essential medications system, and the regulation of drug pricing. Through a comprehensive analysis of these challenges, the objective is to establish a foundational framework for future enhancements in policy. The focus of this study centres around the policies of China's pharmaceutical business. Various research methodologies are employed, such as literature review, policy analysis, example analysis, and quantitative data assessment. The examination of policies in a thorough manner indicates that the execution of the government's pharmaceutical policies, particularly in relation to the health insurance system, critical drug system, and drug price control, has the potential to give rise to a range of societal issues. The issues encompassed in this context comprise, though are not restricted to, the problematic aspects of health insurance reimbursement, shortages of pharmaceutical drugs, and the inequitable allocation of medical resources. In order to tackle these issues, policymakers have proposed a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the health insurance system, bolstering the management of the drug supply chain, optimising the allocation of medical resources, fostering drug innovation and research and development, and reinforcing the governance and utilisation of health insurance funds.

Prescriptions of homeopathic remedies at the expense of the German statutory health insurance from 1985 to 2021: scientific, legal and pharmacoeconomic analysis

The prescription of homeopathic remedies at the expense of the statutory health insurance (SHI) system in Germany has been criticized for years due to a lack of evidence. Now, on the planned abolition of the reimbursement of homeopathic medicines in Germany, the debate on this topic has been reignited. The aim of this paper is to show the costs and their development over time incurred by homeopathic remedies in the healthcare system from 1985 to 2021. For this purpose, 15 selected homeopathic medicines were chosen from the drug prescription report (Arzneiverordnungsreport) and analyzed with regard to their development of DDD (Defined Daily Dose) using data from the Wissenschaftliches Institut der Ortskrankenkassen (WidO, Scientific Institute of the General Local Health Insurance Funds) and compared with their respective rational pharmacological alternatives. The price comparison was based on the DDD costs and the pharmacy retail price of the smallest packaging in each case. The clinical study situation for the preparations was also analyzed. For this purpose, the clinical studies provided by the manufacturer and those on PubMed were divided into evidence levels and analyzed. In addition, the presentation of homeopathic remedies on company websites, in online pharmacies, in specialist information and package leaflets was analyzed with regard to side effects, interactions, indication, and information on the alleged effect/proof of efficacy. In many media, information on homeopathic medicines remained incomplete, and non-compliance with the Therapeutic Product Advertising Act (Heilmittelwerbegesetz) was noted. Naming of the products if often very suggestive, too. Manufacturers’ claims of efficacy go far beyond what can be considered proven in terms of evidence-based medicine and the quality of most clinical studies is poor. Homeopathic remedies are on average significantly more expensive than their rational pharmacological alternatives. Furthermore, DDD costs have continued to rise over the years analyzed. In aggregate, from a pharmacoeconomic, legal, and scientific perspective, abolition of reimbursement of homeopathic medicines in Germany at the expense of the SHI system is well justified.

A STUDY ON COLD CHAIN MAINTENANCE AND VACCINE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF URBAN GOVERNMENT HEALTH FACILITIES IN JABALPUR DISTRICT, INDIA

Introduction: Efficient cold chain and vaccine logistics management are made possible by the health system's processes, practices, and policies, which are evaluated by Effective Vaccine Management, a diagnostic tool. A significant number of urban Jabalpur children receive vaccinations from a government health facility.The aim of the study wasto Assessthe cold chain maintenance and vaccine management practices at urban government Cold Chain Points of Jabalpur district.Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out at all of 13 urban government ColdChain Points across Jabalpur district. Globally validated World Health Organization -United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Effective Vaccine Management tool was used for this study. Criteria wise and Consolidated Effective Vaccine Management scores were calculated as per World Health Organization guidelines. Results: All the urban service point stores or cold chain points scored more than the target 80% in two criteria: storage capacity and building. The consolidated criteria score of all the cold chain points in urban Jabalpur, criteria like maintenance, stock management, management information system, and supportive functions, were lagging behind the 80% mark. Low scores in maintenance, stock management, and management information system and supportive functions criteria are somehow a setback for all the preparationand hard work done towards optimal vaccine management and supply chain in the area. Conclusion: The overall performance of the urban cold chain points in Jabalpur district was far better as compared to the state-level effective vaccine management assessment done in Madhya Pradesh in 2011 and 2016. Planned preventive maintenance for buildings and equipment needs to be strengthened. Issues like Lack of information for stock management, need for periodic refresher trainings are to be emphasized.

Urban-Rural Health Insurance Integration and China's Rural Household Savings.

A linchpin to realizing the internal circulation (referring to the domestic cycle of production, distribution and consumption) is reducing residents' saving rate and expanding the domestic needs. However, rural residents in China demonstrate a strong propensity to save money. In light of practical characteristics of urban-rural health integration promoted in different places, the three-phase data (from 2014 to 2018) and the dual difference-in-differences model of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) are used to empirically investigate the impact of urban-rural health insurance integration on rural household savings. Research reveals that urban-rural health integration can reduce the health risks and medical risks facing rural households, thus weakening the motivation of precautionary savings. The analysis of heterogeneity reveals that the integration of urban-rural health insurance significantly influences the savings rates of households headed by older individuals, particularly women, with lower levels of educational attainment. Besides, the single-tier health insurance system can have a more significant impact, whereas the multi-tier insurance system may not significantly affect the savings rate. Based on the aforesaid research conclusions, this article believes that in order to reduce the savings rate of rural households and expand consumption, the health insurance system should be further improved.

Healthcare service use and medical outcomes of tracheostomy-dependent children: a nationwide study

BackgroundDespite the rising trend of tracheostomies in children, there is a lack of comprehensive resources for families to navigate the challenges of living with a tracheostomy, emphasising the need for...

Participation of Foreigners in Public Health Insurance in the Czech Republic

Abstract Foreigners from third countries are not entitled to participate in the Czech public health insurance system unless they have either permanent residence in the Czech Republic or a Czech employer. This article aims to analyse the economic impact of the possible inclusion of such foreigners into the public health insurance system in the Czech Republic. First, we estimate the size of the group of foreigners concerned and follow with the estimation of contributions paid and the cost involved. The analysis is based on publicly available data that entail simplifications. The conducted research shows that the inclusion of foreigners from third countries into the public health system of the Czech Republic would positively impact the economic balance of the system in that the estimated contributions would surpass the estimated costs.

Embracing family presence: exploring the reasons for family decision-making dependence on in-hospital palliative care for cancer patients

The implementation of home-based palliative care is widely recognized as a commendable and effective model of care provision. However, it is noteworthy that families residing in Indonesia exhibit a propensity to predominantly seek palliative care services within hospital environments for their family members afflicted with palliative-stage cancer. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the perceptions of family members in their decision-making process regarding the care of palliative-stage cancer patients at home. This qualitative study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with ten Indonesian family members of palliative-stage cancer patients refusing discharge, and were analyzed using the Colaizzi method. Furthermore, the inclusion criteria were that the dominant family member who cares for the patient lives with the patient and is involved in the decision-making process. Two themes emerged from this study: i) a lack of support in decision-making, and ii) pain and chronic sorrow. Home-based palliative care for cancer patients presents significant decision-making challenges and persistent grief for families, necessitating robust support and education from healthcare professionals such as nurses and policymakers. Additionally, a national health insurance system that enables effective palliative care is crucial.

Surgical Treatment of Uterine Leiomyomas from 2016-2022 in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Background: Due to the transition to a mandatory health insurance system (MHIS) and also taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of uterine leiomyoma in Kazakhstan in recent years, taking into account the ratio of uterine-preserving surgery (UPS) and hysterectomy. Methods and Results: This epidemiological study was carried out upon the request of the Republican E-Health Center (RCEZ) to assess the dynamics of surgical treatment of uterine leiomyomas (UL) in Almaty at the expense of the Republican budget from 2016 to 2022. Since 2016, by 2022 there was a decrease in the total number of treated cases of UL at the expense of the Republican budget (from 1,478 to 1,063). From 2016 to 2019, there were statistically significantly more hysterectomies, whereas from 2020 to 2022 the number of uterine-preserving surgeries increased statistically significantly. The number of laparoscopic myomectomy and hysteroscopic myomectomy for treating submucous leiomyomas increased statistically significantly from 2016 to 2019. However, there were no statistical differences in the number of treated cases with this technique from 2020 to 2022. Conclusion: Although high-tech fibroid surgery has been performed more frequently in recent years, these numbers are insufficient today, which justifies the need to train more specialists in advanced technologies.

Low-Dose Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients With Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Rationale & ObjectiveContinuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) is preferred when available for hemodynamically unstable acute kidney injury (AKI) patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend a delivered CKRT dose of 20–25 mL/kg/h, however in Japan, doses are typically below this recommendation due to government health insurance system restrictions. This study investigated the association between mortality and dose of CKRT. Study DesignSingle-center retrospective cohort study. Setting& Participants: Critically ill patients with AKI treated with CKRT at a tertiary Japanese university hospital between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2021. ExposureDelivered CKRT doses below or above the median. Outcome90-day mortality after CKRT initiation. Analytical ApproachMultivariable Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier analysis. ResultsThe study population consisted of 494 patients. The median age was 72 years, and 309 patients (62.6%) were men. Acute tubular injury was the leading cause of AKI, accounting for 81.8%. The median delivered CKRT dose was 13.2 mL/kg/h. 456 (92.3%) study participants received delivered CKRT doses below 20 mL/kg/h, and 204 (41.3%) died within 90 days after CKRT initiation. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed increased mortality in the below-median group (hazard ratio: 1.73, 95% confidence interval: 1.19–2.51, P = 0.004). Additionally, a significant, inverse, non-linear association between 90-day mortality and delivered CKRT dose was observed using delivered CKRT dose as a continuous variable. LimitationsSingle-center, retrospective, observational study. ConclusionsA lower delivered CKRT dose was independently associated with higher 90-day mortality among critically ill patients who mostly received dosing below current KDIGO recommendations.

A collaboration team to build social service partnerships within a safety-net health system

BackgroundTo facilitate safety-net healthcare system partnerships with community social service providers, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LAC DHS) created a new collaboration team to spur cross-agency social and medical referral networks and engage communities affected by health disparities as part of a Sect. 1115 Medicaid waiver in Los Angeles County entitled Whole Person Care-Los Angeles (WPC-LA).MethodsThis observational research reviews three years of collaboration team implementation (2018–2020) through Medicaid-reportable engagement reports, a collaboration team qualitative survey on challenges, facilitators, and recommendations for community engagement. Member reflections for survey findings were conducted with the collaboration team and LAC DHS WPC-LA leadership.ResultsCollaboration team Medicaid engagement reports (n = 144) reported > 2,700 events, reaching > 70,000 individuals through cross-agency and community-partnered meetings. The collaboration team survey (n = 9) and member reflection sessions portrayed engagement processes through outreach, service assessments, and facilitation of service partnerships. The collaboration team facilitated community engagement processes through countywide workgroups on justice-system diversion and African American infant and maternal health. Recommendations for future safety net health system engagement processes included assessing health system readiness for community engagement and identifying strategies to build mutually beneficial social service partnerships.ConclusionsA dedicated collaboration team allowed for bi-directional knowledge exchange between county services, populations with lived experience, and social services, identifying service gaps and recommendations. Engagement with communities affected by health disparities resulted in health system policy recommendations and changes.

Assessing the accuracy of health facility typology in representing the availability of health services: a case study in Mali

IntroductionUsing health facility types as a measure of service availability is a common approach in international standards for health system policy and planning. However, this proxy may not accurately reflect...

Challenges and solutions for discharge support of elderly people in the acute care ward: Interviews with community-based integrated care supporters and patients in Tokyo, Japan.

Japan, which has become the country with the longest-living people in the world due to rapid population aging, has an insurer function for each local government and socialized long-term care under a public system. Japan aims to build a Community-based Integrated Care System (CICS) for each municipality with the goal of integrating medical care and long-term care. However, despite the policy and management studies, the challenges and solutions for discharge support by the parties have not yet been clarified. This study aimed to obtain suggestions on challenges and solutions for discharge support in the acute care wards for the elderly for community-based integrated care support providers and patients in Kita Ward, Tokyo. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the obtained data were a priori analyzed by a deductive thematic analysis using a conceptual framework for integrated care based on the integrative functions of primary care. The challenges were found to include: i) disparity between medical and lifestyle perspectives, ii) competencies of medical and care workers at homes, iii) discharge support challenges related to the elderly themselves, iv) nursing care dependent on family; and v) the impact of payment of medical service in the health insurance system and payment of long-term care services. The solution that can be applied at the local government level was community connection. While aiming to build a CICS for each local government, there was a contradiction in that the challenges and solutions required examination at the national and prefectural levels.

Impact of extreme weather events on healthcare utilization and mortality in the United States.

Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events. Yet a systematic analysis of post-disaster healthcare utilization and outcomes for severe weather and climate disasters, as tracked by the US government, is lacking. Following exposure to 42 US billion-dollar weather disasters (severe storm, flood, flood/severe storm, tropical cyclone and winter storm) between 2011 and 2016, we used a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to quantify changes in the rates of emergency department (ED) visits, nonelective hospitalizations and mortality between fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries in affected compared to matched control counties in post-disaster weeks 1, 1-2 and 3-6. Overall, disasters were associated with higher rates of ED utilization in affected counties in post-disaster week 1 (DID of 1.22% (95% CI, 0.20% to 2.25%; P < 0.020)) through week 2. Nonelective hospitalizations were unchanged. Mortality was higher in affected counties in week 1 (DID of 1.40% (95% CI, 0.08% to 2.74%; P = 0.037)) and persisted for 6 weeks. Counties with the greatest loss and damage experienced greater increases in ED and mortality rates compared to all affected counties. Thus, billion-dollar weather disasters are associated with excess ED visits and mortality in Medicare beneficiaries. Tracking these outcomes is important for adaptation that protects patients and communities, health system resilience and policy.

Sustainable financing for vaccination towards advancing universal health coverage in the WHO African region: The strategic role of national health insurance.

There is a growing political interest in health reforms in Africa, and many countries are choosing national health insurance as their main financing mechanism for universal health coverage. Although vaccination is an essential health service that can influence progress toward universal health coverage, it is not often prioritized by these national health insurance systems. This paper highlights the potential gains of integrating vaccination into the package of health services that is provided through national health insurance and recommends practical policy actions that can enable countries to harness these benefits at population level.

Medical care use and mortality rate after the onset of disability: A 6-year follow-up study based on national data in Taiwan

BackgroundThe onset of disability is a major health challenge, and people with disability can be particularly underserved in the years immediately after the disability onset. ObjectiveTo analyze the excess mortality rate of people with recent-onset disability and their health-care utilization during the period after disability onset (1–6 years after onset). MethodsWe used whole-population claims data from 2015 to 2020 (for approximately 23 million individuals) from Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) system. These NHI claims data were linked to the National Death Records and National Disability Registry. Each individual with a disability was followed until their death or December 31, 2020. The age-standardized mortality rate and outpatient and inpatient utilization were compared between individuals with and without disability. Finally, Cox regressions were estimated to determine excess mortality for the individuals with disability. ResultsThe age-standardized mortality rates for the people with disability and those without disability were 1020.35/10,000 and 463.83/10,000, respectively. The people with disability utilized significantly more medical care under the NHI system. Mortality rates differed substantially among disability types. The Cox regression revealed a hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% CI = 1.46, 1.48) for all-cause mortality for people with disability, and significant sex differences in mortality risk were observed for some causes of death. ConclusionAccording to the excess mortality rates within 6 years of disability onset observed in this study, the NHI may not be sufficient to reduce health disparity between people with and without disabilities. In addition, specific characteristics of each type of disability should be considered.

Developing a Training in Motivational Counselling to Promote Return to Work: An Intervention Mapping Approach.

Due to the Belgian health insurance system's controlling nature, work-disabled claimants can feel forced to return to work (RTW), increasing their risk of relapse. RTW out of interest or importance is considered more sustainable. Such autonomous motivation for RTW can be promoted through 'motivational counselling', an integration of self-determination theory and motivational interviewing. To adopt this, health insurance practitioners need training, which can be designed through intervention mapping as an evidence-based planning tool. This paper reports on the development of a motivational counselling training for health insurance practitioners. Intervention mapping's six steps guided the formulation of programme goals and learning outcomes, matching the context. We then identified change methods which were translated into practical components. Together with the health insurances' input, this resulted in a concrete training programme with an implementation and evaluation plan. The training was designed to increase practitioners' knowledge, skills, and beliefs relevant for learning motivational counselling, which also requires solution-focused strategies. Methods like guided practice were translated into built-in exercises, feedback, and information, which were implemented through an online training format of five sessions including one follow-up. Reporting about training development increases understanding of its effectiveness and implementation, which will be evaluated via pre- and post-training data collection amongst practitioners. Future trainings can benefit from this by accounting for health insurances' organizational barriers or building on the training's evidence-based backbone whilst only requiring specific adaptations for other stakeholders and contexts. Further research should evaluate motivational counselling's impact on claimants' RTW trajectories.

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Y.L. Shevchenko as a person and his attitude to dentistry and maxillofacial surgery

The purpose of the study is to share personal impressions about the prominent organizer of military and practical healthcare, former Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Professor Y.L. Shevchenko, as well as his attitude and contribution to dentistry and maxillofacial surgery.&#x0D; Material and methods. When writing this article, we used exclusively our personal memories from communication with Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Y.L. Shevchenko.&#x0D; Results. You can read about the professional and social activities of Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, laureate of the State Prize of Russia, Professor, Colonel-General of the medical service, retired Yuri Leonidovich Shevchenko in many publications. Y.L. Shevchenko made a major contribution to the creation of a territorial health system (practical and military), focusing on aspects of economics and health management, as well as in the formation of the national health insurance system and much more. This article highlights the personal qualities of this respected scientist, clinician, organizer of military and practical healthcare, as well as a public figure, emphasizes his humanity, respect for teachers and subordinates, as well as dedication to his work, his understanding and importance of the tasks facing dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. The contribution of Y.L. Shevchenko to dentistry was noted, as well as the perpetuation of the memory of outstanding military maxillofacial surgeons and dentists.&#x0D; Conclusions. Personal communication with the academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Y.L. Shevchenko, has always been pleasant and productive for the author. Such Teachers as Professor Y.L. Shevchenko can be considered the STANDARD OF MAN AND HUMANITY.