03.09.2020
Assessment of healthcare
- According to a survey by the Rating Group, 36% of respondents consult a doctor or medical specialist regarding their health condition or to receive any health-related recommendations less than once a year, 15–18% do so once a year or once every six months, 13% at least once every three months, and only 8% use such services on a monthly basis.
- 84% have chosen their family doctor and signed a declaration with them (this share has increased from 63% to 84% over two years), while 16% have not yet chosen a doctor. The largest share of those who have chosen a therapist is among older respondents, women, and those who more frequently use medical services. Those who have not yet chosen a doctor account for 16%.
- 18% are rather satisfied with the implementation of the healthcare reform in Ukraine, 64% are rather dissatisfied, and 13% know nothing about it. Greater satisfaction with the reform is observed among young people, more affluent respondents, and those who visit their family doctor more often.
- Almost 60% of respondents believe that the authorities should continue the healthcare reform with significant changes, 25% support its cancellation, and 6% support continuation without changes. 62% believe that healthcare reform in Ukraine should be implemented through gradual changes, while 29% support rapid changes.
- For the successful implementation of healthcare reform in Ukraine, almost 40% of respondents allocate three years or more, 21% one year, and 9% six months. 20% believe that healthcare reform will never be successfully implemented. A more optimistic assessment of the timeframe for reform implementation is observed among young people, those who have relatives working in medicine, and those who are generally satisfied with the healthcare reform.
- Almost 60% believe that healthcare in Ukraine should be partly paid and partly free of charge, 33% support fully free healthcare, and 5% fully paid healthcare. Fully free healthcare is more often supported by older, poorer respondents and rural residents.
- Over the past 12 months, 19% of respondents gave gifts (alcohol, sweets, concert tickets, etc.) or made monetary contributions or donations for medical treatment, while 30% did not give such gifts. Half of respondents did not visit a doctor during the past year.
- 27% would support the appointment of a foreigner to the position of Minister of Health, while 64% are against it. Younger and more affluent respondents are more likely to support such an appointment. 62% believe that Ulana Suprun’s activities had a rather negative impact on the healthcare sector in Ukraine, 19% assessed her activities rather positively, and almost 20% were unable to assess them. A more positive attitude toward U. Suprun’s activities is observed among residents of the West, younger respondents, and more affluent respondents.
- About 60% have heard about such initiatives of the Ministry of Health as the update of the Ehealth electronic system, renewal of the emergency medical services vehicle fleet, introduction of public information systems on vaccination, and granting citizens the right to voluntarily decide on organ donation after death. Only about one third of the population is informed about other initiatives (such as the restoration of free hepatitis testing, construction of interregional hospitals, strengthening epidemiological control, and creation of university clinics). Those who are aware of these initiatives are somewhat more likely to support their implementation. Overall, all the mentioned initiatives are supported by the majority of respondents, with the highest support for renewing the vehicle fleet and restoring free hepatitis testing.
- Attitudes toward daily Ministry of Health briefings on the coronavirus situation are mixed: 49% support holding them, while 43% do not.
- An absolute majority does not support the idea of closing hospitals that serve a small number of patients (86% against, only 10% in favor).
- Half of respondents expect a new wave of the coronavirus epidemic in the autumn–winter of this year, while about 40% do not expect it and 11% were unable to answer. 46% believe that the authorities should reintroduce strict quarantine measures during a possible second wave of the epidemic, while an equal share (47%) do not think so. Those who expect a second wave are more likely to consider quarantine measures necessary, although even among them one third are against it.
- 74% of respondents consider the work of the Ministry of Health important for themselves and their families, while 19% consider it unimportant.
- Overall, trust in central government institutions within the healthcare system has slightly increased compared to the previous month. 30% trust the Ministry of Health and 55% do not. 20% trust the National Health Service of Ukraine and 38% do not. 14% trust the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Public Health, Medical Care, and Medical Insurance, while 51% do not.
- 71% of respondents believe that the Minister of Health should be an experienced medical professional, while 19% believe the minister should be an experienced manager. Only 23% believe that the Minister of Health should create conditions for the unhindered operation of creditors and foreign capital, while 65% believe the minister should strictly regulate their activities. Only 9% of respondents note a positive impact of the frequent change of Ministers of Health on the healthcare sector in Ukraine. 70% note a negative impact, and 15% believe it has no impact on the healthcare sector.
- 43% of respondents frequently follow news about the coronavirus, 21% follow it occasionally, and 18% rarely follow such news. 17% are not interested at all. Political events in Ukraine are frequently followed by 39% of respondents, occasionally by 27%, and rarely by 21%. 14% are not interested at all.
- Most often, respondents receive information about the coronavirus situation in Ukraine from national television (60%) and Internet websites (51%). 26% receive information via Facebook, 17% from relatives, close ones, or acquaintances, 14% from YouTube, 13% from Telegram channels and the Viber community Coronavirus-info; radio, print media, Instagram, and the official website of the Ministry of Health are used by 8–12%.
Methodology
- Audience: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older in all oblasts, except for the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, and settlement type.
- Total sample: 2000 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error with a 0.95 confidence level does not exceed 2.2%.
- Fieldwork dates: first wave: July 14-19, 2020; second wave: August 15-25, 2020.
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