The program “Treatment of Ukrainian citizens abroad” in the long term should be reduced to isolated cases, economist at the CASE Ukraine analytical center, author of a study on the implementation of the program and identification of more effective ways of state financing Natalia Leschenko has said.
“The program needs to be abandoned in the short term, but it requires tight budget constraints and prioritization of referrals for treatment (for example, referral to treatment of children, patients who have a high chance of returning to normal life). In the long term, the program needs to be reduced to isolated cases,” she said during a presentation of the study results on Tuesday.
Leschenko also said that it is necessary to introduce an assessment of the quality of such treatment.
“What would ideally like to see is an assessment of the patient’s health outcomes after treatment. The comparison of these results with the reference ones established on the basis of scientific research and clinical evaluations. This requirement is in the legislation of other countries that treatment abroad should be paid for at the state expense, only if this treatment is proven to be effective. Examples include readmission rates, mortality, complications,” she said.
“Our proposal is, in principle, not to increase funding for the program. The governments of most countries adhere to the principle of limited funding, that is, payment of a percentage of treatment or full payment to a limited number of people,” the expert said.
As reported, under the budget program “Treatment of Ukrainian citizens abroad” in 2020, UAH 1.089 billion is provided.
