Organization of otolaryngological care in Ukraine: current challenges and directions of response

Annotation. Diseases of the ear, throat, and nose remain an urgent public health problem. The aim of the study was to conduct a theoretical study of the organization of otolaryngological care for the population of Ukraine; identify current problems and areas of response. Content analysis of legislative and regulatory acts, analysis of reference materials, industry statistical data and generalization of results was carried out. It was established that until 2023, otolaryngological care to the population was traditionally provided in primary care institutions by general practitioners-family doctors, as well as in multidisciplinary inpatient and outpatient healthcare institutions. In order to ensure the ability of the network of health care facilities to function not only in peacetime, but also in wartime conditions, from 2023 specialized medical care will be provided in designated facilities of hospital districts, in particular, otolaryngological care is available to the population in primary care facilities, cluster and supracluster health care institutions. From 2012 to 2022, the number of otolaryngologists in Ukraine decreased from 4.033 to 2.580 (0.63 per 10 000 population), and the supply of general practitioners-family doctors remained insufficient (3.44 per 10 000 population). As a result, the volumes of primary medical care are low (40.0-60.0% of the total number of outpatient visits), which increases the burden on specialized care facilities, including those where otolaryngological care is provided. One of the problematic issues in primary care institutions is the lack of medical equipment to help patients with ear, throat, and nose diseases. The professional level of medical workers in specialized offices of outpatient facilities needs to be increased, and it is necessary to ensure strict adherence by doctors to the standards of otolaryngological care. Thus the identified shortcomings require justification for improving the organization of otolaryngological care for the population of the hospital district in order to ensure its availability and quality, which are the prospects for further research.