To close or not to close the rural district hospitals? This issue is already among the top creepy stories for a couple of years. The state headed for reorganization of the medical structure. The purpose is honourable – to transform quantity into quality, make the hospitals to meet European standards and improve services. However, it turned out that without taking into account some regional specifics the state will not proceed too much.
In Verkhnye Vodyane village in Rachiv district the perspective of closing the hospital caused a wave of discontent. People even organized a protest against the government’s intentions. Ivan Bilyak, a physician of the district hospital even turned out to be a "hostage" of the situation. People claimed that Rakhiv hospital is too far from them, the way to it takes time and money, mountain roads are sometimes completely blocked by natural elements, so in case their local hospital is closed they will have no chance to get any medical support.
After several appeals and requests of deputies the citizens of Verkhnye Vodyane received good news: Regional State Council promised that the hospital would not be closed by the end of this year. However, the decision is only temporary.
Yet the inhabitants of Verkhnye Vodyane are satisfied: they do not have to drive 100 kilometers to Rakhiv and back in order to get some medical help. However, will Kyiv understand the problem of medical support in mountain settlements and take into account the specifics of life in remote mountain villages while implementing the health reform? The questions stays open.
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