Free Health Care — Reality and Perspectives

Abstract

The paper introduces the results of the analysis of potential consequences, which result from the implementation of three main strategies targeting the achievement of adequate financial provision for the government guarantees of the medical care delivery to the population. The strategies studied are: 1) the increased government funding for HC with limited changes in the structure of HC; 2) restructuring of the medical care delivery system; and 3) legalization of out_of_pocket payments for medical care. Among the consequences studied, a special focus was on changes in the system of informal payments for medical care. The data presented have been collected during interviews with HC professionals and they address such issues as the informal payment prevalence, causes and methods of informal payments, and opportunities for their regulation.