In Lviv, there is a reform of city polyclinics underway, favourable for patients. Salaries for call centre workers organising the medical process have nearly doubled, in accordance with the city’s support programme.
This programme allows for 500 thousand hryvnias to be allocated monthly to medical associations, with co-financing by medical institutions being compulsory. The funds are intended for additional payments to those ensuring quick patient access to doctors. By the city council’s decision on 30th April, salary increases for all medical institution staff are planned.
The new format of outpatient care, operational since 1st March, ensures consultations and diagnostics within a day. In March, there were 292,879 appointments, exceeding February’s figures by 15%. The system demonstrates its efficiency without overloads.
The structure of consultations has changed: more patients are turning to specialist doctors, enabling quicker consultations. Patients can make appointments with on-call specialists through call centres, where 145 individuals are employed.
As part of promising changes, two medical associations have been formed, integrating polyclinics into a single system with all necessary services on-site. The programme aims at further implementation of a 24/7 system and service improvements for residents.
Iryna Kulych noted that the system is organised so patients do not waste time on unnecessary steps, and Marta Matiushko highlighted the increase in the number of consultations and streamlined routing thanks to a unified medical information system.