MARKET OF PAID MEDICAL SERVICES: TRENDS AND PROSPECTS (CASE OF RUSSIA)

Improving the quality of medical services at the national, regional and local levels, as well as attracting investment in the healthcare sector is considered a key strategic goal for achieving sustainable development of the Russian Federation until 2030. The article is devoted to the study of the dynamics and development prospects of such a segment of Russian healthcare as the paid medical services market. This market, unlike medical care within the framework of the compulsory medical insurance system, is more dependent on the macroeconomic situation, in particular, on the income of the population. The macroeconomic instability of recent years, caused by political and economic turbulence, has a significant impact on the medical services market. At the same time, it was found that from 2017 to 2023, the volume of paid medical services in Russia increased by 2.3 times, despite inflationary processes and geopolitical challenges. The growth of the population's well-being and the improvement in the quality of medical services contributed to the increase in demand, although the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic shocks of 2022, caused by the introduction of large-scale anti-Russian sanctions, temporarily slowed down its development. The main focus of the study is on the distribution of expenses by region and the impact of various factors on the availability of medical services for the population. Forecasts indicate continued growth of the medical services market in the medium term, subject to stabilization of the economic situation and further technological development of the healthcare sector, including through its digitalization.