Ukraine Boosts Medical Reform

DNIPROPETROVSK, Ukraine, June 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The new Regional Perinatal Center (RPC) with the capacity of four thousand births per year was opened in southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk. This was the result of the "New Life" program launched by the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. So far there are six such centers up and running in Ukraine. According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov, who was present at the opening ceremony, there are plans to open one such center in every region of Ukraine by the end of 2012.

New RPC in Dnipropetrovsk consists of obstetrics and gynecology wards with a 200 bed capacity. Comparatively the Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago operates at 155 beds capacity. Dnipropetrovsk RPC occupies the area of up to 196 thousand square feet. The total cost of the project was estimated at USD 12.2 million, which includes a little over three million dollars worth of modern medical equipment installed in the new center. The Center boasts two operating rooms, intensive care units for newborns and women as well as modern diagnostics equipment allowing the center with its 560 highly qualified doctors to offer a living chance to children and infants who weigh a little over a pound.

The first perinatal center in Dnipropetrovsk region was launched in December 2011 in Kryvyi Rih. Since its opening the 154 bed center with 3,000 births annual capacity was instrumental in delivering more than 1,400 births.

Healthcare reform in Ukraine kicked off in January 2011 with the pilot project in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Vinnytsya regions. The full-fledged healthcare reform is planned for 2013.

In 2012, the pilot program has been gradually extended to most of Ukraine's regions. In 2013, the national system is expected to come online in accordance with a new law establishing the general rules and principles for healthcare services in Ukraine.

Ukraine's current healthcare system is highly ineffective. The core of the problem is the model for funding this care, which prevents the state from ensuring a decent level of healthcare services. The main goal of the pilot is to determine a new approach to healthcare funding that will uphold the interests of those who need healthcare services and those who provide them.

SOURCE Worldwide News Ukraine