Primary healthcare is one of the main functions delegated by the state to hromadas. Due to the healthcare subvention, transferred by the state to the ground, hromadas have to fully implement this service. Therefore, local self-government is interested in ensuring that the healthcare service is accessible and high-quality one, said Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, in the “Informational Evening” programme of the 5^th Channel.

According to him, the state provides funds, approves projects, and the construction of new outpatient clinics is the prerogative of local authorities. The technical requirements, developed by MinRegion, are a design condition. They must also purchase equipment at the expense of the healthcare subvention, according to the approved list of the Ministry of Health.

“We are currently working on infrastructure. Primarily, there should be modern premises equipped with the necessary list of medical equipment, including telecommunication opportunities. The main thing to keep a doctor is the issue of housing, salary and transport assurance,” said Hennadii Zubko.

The Vice Prime Minister also told how the doctors' declarations affect the earnings of healthcare employees. “The healthcare subvention comes in the amount of approximately UAH 225 per resident. After signing an agreement with a family doctor, it increases to UAH 370. This amount may vary, depending on the coefficient. A child under the age of 18 is a coefficient of 1.5, an elderly person, or a person over 55 years old – 2.0, a person aged from 39 to 65 – 1.5. Therefore, it is not linear dependence,” Hennadii Zubko specified.

According to him, more than 15 million Ukrainians have signed agreements with family doctors. And this process is most active in villages.

“The rural healthcare reform has short timeframe, it covers 2018 and the beginning of 2019. Therefore, we do not have time for discussion. People living in rural areas have to be provided with a high-quality service – not only with a primary healthcare, but also with second-level professional consulting services,” Hennadii Zubko emphasised.