In a month's time, the medical reform will be launched in Ukraine’s primary care clinics. But only in those cities and regions where clinics have undergone autonomization by changing their status from budgetary institutions to non-commercial municipal and state enterprises.
Aware of the importance and complexity of this task for communities, at the beginning of 2017 the reform’s working group headed by ILF lawyers developed Methodological Recommendations on Transformation of Healthcare Institutions from Budgetary Institutions to Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprises. They proved useful to self-government bodies, heads of local authorities and healthcare institutions as well as members of local councils responsible for the reorganization.
For a year our team has been studying hundreds of comments and issues arisen in the country during this process as well as letters from citizens to the Ministry of Healthcare. Taking into account practical experience and the law “On Autonomization”, experts refined the above-mentioned Methodological Recommendations. The refining was done by experts from ILF, USAID project “HIV Reform in Action” and Deloitte Consulting LLP.
As a result, the perfected Methodological Recommendations on Transformation of Healthcare Institutions from Budgetary Institutions to Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprises clear up the following issues:
- Simplification of the transition process by introducing grace periods (for property evaluation, debt settlement, withdrawal of healthcare institutions’ remaining funds by the owners).
- Certain important aspects have been expanded: appointment of the head of a healthcare institution; full and shortened name of an enterprise; formation of authorized capital; charter provisions, etc.
- Status of supervisory boards and boards of trustees has been clarified (who sits on them, what powers and responsibilities they have, etc.).
- Possible ways of cooperation between non-commercial enterprises and other healthcare institutions.
- Funding options for autonomous healthcare institutions prior to signing contracts with the National Healthcare Service of Ukraine, as well as the possibility of getting funds from local self-government bodies in other regions/cities and from other sources.
The updated Methodological Recommendations will help local self-government expedite the status change of clinics under their jurisdiction. This will contribute to a new system of relations in the medical field all over the country and provide higher quality medical services at the level of communities.
