The "residual principle" in the financing of Ukrainian health
care has caused the latter's crisis, Health Minister Andriy Serdiuk told
a conference dealing with rural health problems.
Rural areas, where 48.9% of the Ukrainian people live, show a mortality
rate 46.7% higher than anywhere in the cities, two to three times higher
child mortality.
All told, Ukraine has lost 2 million residents over the past seven years.
By way of comparison, as many Soviet citizens died in the first months
following the Nazi aggression (June 22, 1941), beginning what the Soviets
called the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 (known elsewhere as World War
II).
Today's Ukrainian physician receives an average of Hr 122.33 a month,
slightly above the lowest-paid category of "cultural workers." Budget subsidies
supply 40% of the health care industry's actual needs.
The President, appearing at the conference later in the afternoon, informed
those present that the reason for the aggravating national health is not
so much the current socioeconomic condition as the result of the former
Soviet empire's colonialist policy toward Ukraine (!). Another reason is
the number of pensioners: 15 million. "We regard medicine as a priority
of the highest importance," stressed Mr. Kuchma.
This author thought the President's appearance at the conference at
three o'clock was no coincidence, because the heated debate in the audience
had ebbed by that hour and the standing orders precluded further critical
speeches. Yet there was a hitch. Volodymyr Frolkis, Vice President of the
Academy of Medical Sciences, took the floor again and repeated his very
critical speech specially for the President. The Chief Executive's reaction?
He smiled twice at certain points in Dr. Frolkis's presentation that would
make most others weep.






