Valery Zaporozhan: Suprun’s medical reform is an experiment on the health and life of the Ukrainians

Led by Uliana Suprun, the Ministry of Health offers the Ukrainians dubious “projects” instead of radical changes in the organization, management and financing of the industry. This is stated in the article by Academician Valerii Zaporozhan, Chairman of the Academic Council of Odessa National Medical University, for the publication of Vesti.
He highlighted that a medical reform is definitely needed for Ukraine. However, it needs a sound strategy, it must be systematic and take into account many factors. However, the Ministry of Health chose the tactics of the “cavalry onslaught” and the replacement of systemic changes by “spontaneous” and inactive decisions. “Under the current leadership, the Ministry of Health has transformed itself into an unpredictable project structure, the content of which in society causes confusion, surprise and irritation,” said Valerii Zaporozhan. “In my opinion, all the problems of the medical sector in the country are connected with the unwillingness or inability of responsible persons to think perspectively, taking into account the traditions, principles, living conditions of people in our country.”
According to him, such methods of “reforming” have the opposite effect and lead to irreparable consequences. In particular, in recent years the number of medical establishments has decreased by almost a third. Rural medicine and ambulance are being destroyed. There was a tendency to replace medical professionals with people without medical education simply because such practices exist in the United States.
In addition, the reform has destroyed the industry’s governance system. By virtue of the first decision, Ulyana Suprun eliminated strategically important bodies – the Academic Council and the MOH Board. The dismissed specialists were the “bridge” between the ministerial officials and health care practitioners. The consequences of such changes can hurt the whole system, and thus the health of millions of Ukrainian citizens.
“The so-called medical reform, along with medical education reform, are more unprofessional fabrications than a real strategy and roadmap. Human health and life are not a site for experimentation. The result can be achieved with a comprehensive, consistent approach, careful study of the pain points of the system», – Valerii Zaporozhan is convinced.