THE PECULIARITIES OF CHANGING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN UKRAINE

Medical reform of the healthcare system in Ukraine started in early 2018, although serious transformations began earlier due to the reform. The Law "On State Financial Guarantees for Medical Care of the Population", adopted by the Parliament in October 19, 2017 introduces the practice of establishing healthcare guarantees in Ukraine. The main reforming measures are defined in "The Program of Activities of the Cabinet Ministers of Ukraine", they include: 1) changing the concept of financing; 2) the formation of hospital districts; 3) the transformation of healthcare facilities by altered budgeting institutions into communal non-profit enterprises; and 4) other changes related to new principles of public procurements and other anti-corruption measures. Within the medical reform the following measures have already been taken: 1) the number of hospital bed-places decreases in the regions due to the reduction of the number of patients in the regions; 2) the cost of utilities in all hospitals from January 1, 2018 is covered by the local authorities; 3) the formation of hospital districts introduced in the country; 4) since April, 2017 the state program "Available medicines" has begun; 5) on April 25, 2017 the decision was made to introduce new standards of clinical protocols in Ukraine which is based on international standards; 6) since June 19, 2017 the first service of the electronic healthcare system e-Health operates in the pilot mode - "registration of primary healthcare institutions"; and 7) from September 20, 2017 the e-Health system has been working in test mode.