Status and performance results of medical hematological institutions under the Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia in 2021

This study is induced by amendments in the legal and regulatory setting of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA), which now reports directly to the Government of the Russian Federation, while the position of the Chief External Hematologist is taken by a leading specialist of the Federal State Budget Institution Russian Scientific Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusiology (RSRIHT) under the FMBA of Russia. A demand arose to assess status and performance results of medical hematological institutions supervised by the FMBA of Russia, which became the goal of this study. First we developed assessment criteria and a reporting form to be filled out by specialists in charge of hematological care in federal districts. Those criteria were later used to assess the structure, condition and activities of medical hematological institutions in 2021. It has been identified that hematological service of the FMBA of Russia has 152 hematological patient capacity; the target indicators for treated patients are outstripped, and high-tech medical care targets are 100% hit. Positive outcomes of effective activities are proved by no waiting lists for planned hospitalization, no complications after inpatient or outpatient manipulations and surgeries, no validated claims and complaints about quality of medical care from the public. However, the study also revealed several weaknesses of the system, among which are: personnel shortage of physicians and paramedics; lack of modern high-tech examination methods in some medical institutions; deficiencies in blood transfusion support; no follow-up monitoring of patients, no analysis of lethal cases, etc. As a result, we developed specific short-term and longterm measures focused on improvement of medical care in hematological institutions under the FMBA of Russia. Further monitoring of status and performance results of medical hematological institutions, as well as coordination of their operations will promote improved organization and quality of medical care.