Urban, village and settlement councils should be involved in the organisation of primary healthcare services’ provision. This is especially topical for rural areas and small towns, said Vyacheslav Nehoda, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services, during a meeting in the Association of Local Councils of the Lviv Oblast.

"Now, you, as well as other oblasts, face the task to develop a capable network of primary healthcare in the rural areas of your region. It is difficult to do without a clear list of services to be provided at health facilities, without an idea of additional functions of the medical staff. It is good to install a computer in the hospital, but will anyone be able to use it? It's also great to purchase a car for every doctor. But can the doctor drive it? It is great to build a rural health post, but you need to know, who will work there. All this is difficult to analyse, but work needs to be started, involving representatives of both the medical community and hromadas," said Vyacheslav Nehoda.

According to him, the healthcare reform is currently only at its beginning, the first experience is being gained, both in the Government and in the regions. "I'm sure this experience will show that local self-government cannot be “cut off” from healthcare services. If the hromada does not deal with the premises of hospitals and rural health posts, transport, communal and other issues, all healthcare, especially in the rural areas, will simply disappear. It is also worth noting that AH leaders are interested in high-quality healthcare on their territory, because the quality of this service forms the attitude of all, without exception, hromada residents to local authorities," said Vyacheslav Nehoda.