Accessibility of medical services in the region: spatial aspect

Abstract

Purpose: to analyze of the spatial availability of medical services to the rural population of the Vologda Oblast, to the analysis of the factors affecting accessibility. Discussion: timely and qualitative provision of the population with medical care is one of the key factors for improving living standards of people and territories in general. Accordingly, the availability of medical services (which themselves are part of a hierarchically higher level of health care – medical care) directly affects the quality of medical care. However, in Russia as a whole and in the regions in particular, there is a situation of unequal access to such services. In large cities, the population receives medical services to the fullest extent and is provided with medical care of all kinds (from primary to highly specialized). The rural population, as a rule, has limited access even to the first stage – health care provided by medical attendant and obstetric centers, and in certain territories by households. Last but not least, accessibility is determined by spatial factors (size of territories, nature of settlement, infrastructure, etc.). Results: an analysis of the available statistical data characterizing the factors chosen for the study indicates a significant differentiation of municipal districts both in terms of the integral indicator of accessibility and in terms of individual factors. The results of the work can be used to make decisions aimed at improving the provision of rural population with medical care.