Effects of the transformations in the regional healthcare system: contribution to saving the population health

The relevance of studying the changes in the healthcare system aimed at saving the population health, preserving human potential and labor potential of the population, is due to demographic challenges to Russia: a decrease in the birth rate, an increase in the demographic burden, etc. The scientific significance of the study lies in development of methodological approaches that consider the healthcare system as a profitable industry, in contrast to the existing approaches that define it as a costly industry, proposal of the author’s approach, which allows us to identify «bottlenecks» in the activities of the regional healthcare system by areas and services, determine development priorities and evaluate the effects of the measures aimed at preventing and reducing morbidity, mortality and disability of the population. The author’s approach was tested using the example of implementing measures in the regional healthcare system of Sverdlovsk oblast aimed at improving the population health. Based on utility theory using the gross regional product (GRP) per capita indicator, the effects of measures aimed at improving population health in Sverdlovsk oblast are assessed. Assessment of the effect of increasing life expectancy at birth in Sverdlovsk oblast in value terms was based on the concept of «weak sustainability» using the Human Development Index. The implementation of innovative transformations by services in the healthcare system of Sverdlovsk oblast shows achievement of high medical, social, and economic effects, helps to improve the level of health of the region’s population, reduce losses of the working population. There are substantiated the directions of healthcare development that are most effective from the standpoint of restoring health and prolonging the life of the population of the region, as well as contributing to raising the efficiency of the regional healthcare system.