ONF: 20% of Russian doctors reported cases of imposing paid medical services on patients

20% of medical workers in state clinics are aware of cases of imposing paid medical services on patients, according to a survey conducted by the All-Russian Popular Front (ONF).

As RBC notes , the question was worded as follows: “Are you aware of cases of imposing additional paid medical services on patients?” The ONF explained to the publication that this issue concerned situations where a patient, when receiving free medical care, was imposed any paid medical services (for example, research and analysis).

Andrey Konoval, co-chairman of the Deystviye healthcare workers' trade union, in a conversation with RBC, suggested that in fact the number of medical workers who are required to offer paid medical services to patients is higher. “This is a very common phenomenon associated with a lack of funding,” he said.

Alexander Saversky, president of the League of Patient Defenders, also adheres to a similar position. “This is a general trend. There is no direct ban on the provision of paid services, although free medical care is guaranteed by the Constitution, ”he told RBC.

More than half of the medical workers surveyed by ONF (58%) suggested that in 2018 the share of paid medical services in Russian hospitals and clinics increased. 7% of respondents said that they have become less, the rest of the respondents believe that nothing has changed. In 2017, 62% of the doctors surveyed reported an increase in the number of paid services, while 30% were of the opinion that this figure remained at the same level.