THE INFLUENCE OF THE EU HEALTH POLICY ON THE PROCESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM REFORMS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

The public health system is a public service that aims to improve the quality of life of the citizens. Therefore, this kind of public service is crucial for normal functioning of any state system, alongside education and the other social services. In the context of the purpose behind this research and the context of the focus of the paper under the term `health services` will be used to describe the primary, secondary and tertiary health protection, which means that the dental health protection and the pharmacy services will be out of the scope of this research. The analysis showed that the health services are categorically connected with the position, the organization, the management and funding of the health system (the legislation, the government bodies, the executives, the health institutions, the health services, human resources, citizens, IT service and other technical segments). This means that the influence of the socioeconomic development of the state reflects, directly, at the public health system. The EU integration process of the Republic of Macedonia has showed that the existing health system was needed to be reconstructed (legally and institutionally) so it could be competitive, efficient and effective. During these decades, having in mind, the EU recommendations the national health policy framework was rapidly changed. Through survey of the relevant literature, questionnaires and interviews made for the article we will try to give an answer if the parallel existence of the primary, secondary and tertiary public and private health system is justified having in mind the population of the country. Furthermore, should the secondary and tertiary segment of the public health system serve as back up to the private system, in a situation where there is a lack of doctors and other specialized medical staff, as well as lack of medical equipment to perform basic work. The question is how to find a financially sustainable public health system under which the health insured individuals get adequate and quality health service.