15.04.2021
Assessment of the healthcare sector in Ukraine (24-28 March 2021)
- A survey conducted by the Sociological Group Rating shows that Ukrainians identify the country’s key problems as the military conflict in eastern Ukraine (47%), unemployment and lack of jobs (37%), and the coronavirus epidemic (35%). Twenty-seven percent consider low wages and pensions a major issue, while 21% point to bribery and corruption in government, and 19% each to government incompetence and rising utility tariffs. Sixteen percent highlight the inability to access quality medical care. Compared with July 2020, the share of those who view the coronavirus epidemic as a major national problem has doubled.
- On a personal level, respondents most often describe low wages and pensions (38%) and rising utility tariffs (35%) as their key difficulties. A quarter see the coronavirus epidemic as a personal problem; 24% point to the military conflict in the East; 23% cite rising prices for essential goods and services, and the same proportion name unemployment. Sixteen percent cannot obtain quality medical care, 14% face corruption, and 13% note government incompetence. Compared with July 2020, significantly more people now view rising utility prices and the pandemic as personal challenges.
- Roughly a third believe that state funds this year should primarily be directed toward fighting the coronavirus and increasing social benefits and pensions. Only 10% favor raising salaries for medical workers as a priority, 8% support spending on road construction, and 4% on increasing teachers’ wages.
- Forty-six percent rate the professionalism and competence of Ukrainian doctors as high, while 42% disagree. Since July 2020, the share of those who assess medical competence positively has grown.
- Over the past six months, 47% sought medical care in public health institutions; 53% did not. Those who did not are more often younger adults (18–29) and men. Among those who received care, 43% rated the services as good or excellent, 33% as satisfactory, and 23% as poor or terrible. Negative evaluations are especially common among older respondents (60+), urban residents, lower-income individuals, and men.
- Health Minister Maksym Stepanov is trusted by 19% and not trusted by 37%, while 34% do not know who he is. Former minister Ulana Suprun is trusted by 14%, distrusted by 61%, and unknown to 17%. Nearly half of respondents do not know former ministers Illia Yemets and Zoriana Skaletska; 8–9% trust them, and about a third distrust them.
- Around 30% believe President Zelensky and the Ministry of Health are responding effectively to the coronavirus threat, while more than half believe their response is ineffective. Only 18% view the actions of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada as effective, while more than 60% evaluate them negatively. Compared to November 2020, positive assessments of the central government’s response have somewhat declined.
- The main reason given for rising coronavirus cases in March is citizens’ failure to follow quarantine rules (46%). Other explanations include seasonal increases in respiratory illnesses (32%), ineffective governmental actions (28%), and the emergence of new variants of the virus (17%).
- A majority (63%) support Ukraine’s decision not to use Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine, while 23% disagree. The highest opposition to this stance is found in the South and East.
Methodology
- Audience: Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older in all regions except the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender and type of settlement.
- Sample size: 2,000 respondents.
- Survey method: face-to-face formalised interviews.
- Representative error of the study with a confidence level of 0.95: no more than 2.2%.
- Fieldwork dates: 24-28 March 2021.
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