Informal Payments For Health Care Services In Ukraine: The Impact Of War

The ongoing war in Ukraine has exacerbated the challenges within the healthcare system, prominently highlighted by the persistence and evolution of informal payments made by patients to healthcare providers. Effective policy measures, aimed at reducing underfunding and reshaping public attitudes towards informal payments, are crucial to ensure equitable access to healthcare services and to mitigate the financial burden on patients, particularly in times of crisis. This work investigates the dynamics of these payments in a war-affected setting, analyzing how the armed conflict has influenced both the prevalence and magnitude of these payments. The study reveals that the war has significantly impacted the likelihood and amounts of informal payments, particularly in regions directly affected by hostilities, and underscores their decrease in 2023 compared to the pre-war period, likely due to economic hardships and disrupted healthcare services