While implementing the healthcare reform the interrelation of components and stages of the reform should be observed, despite the fact that some of its components are being implemented synchronously, the European Business Association (EBA) has said.

"If we look at the process of reforming the healthcare system as a whole, we are concerned about the apparent simultaneous implementation of the various components of the reform in the same period of time. It is important to continue the interrelations between the different stages and processes required to ensure the overall progress in reforming," Executive Director of the EBA Health Care Committee Natalia Serhienko said Interfax-Ukraine, commenting on the results of the meeting of members of the association with the head of the National Health Service of Ukraine Oleh Petrenko.

The EBA pointed out a significant number of components of the reform process, which have been already launched and should be developed. In particular, this is the further development of the National Health Service, the creation and launch of the full-featured work of the National Procurement Agency, the expansion of the reimbursement program and the modification of some approaches to the application of the National List of Essential Medicines.

"We believe that at this stage, it is very important for all government agencies and newly established structures to have well-established, truthful and regular communication within and timely assessment of risks," Serhienko said.

According to her, members of the EBA understand that the activities of the National Health Service only begin, and the agency is focused on solving a large number of organizational issues, creating staff, so "it is not necessary to feed the illusions of rapid improvement and results that could already be immediately felt, for example, in July 2018."

"We hope that in time everyone will be convinced of the progress of the work of the National Health Service. The establishment of the sustainable operation of the eHealth system, the transition of medical institutions to another form of ownership, their registration in the eHealth system and only then the conclusion of contracts with the National Health Service - all this takes time. Sometimes people have unreasonable expectations. It is necessary to follow the development of the situation, carefully analyze the information that appears and, most importantly, take into account the provisions of the current legislation," Serhienko said.

"It is important to timely and regularly inform the population about the stages of the development of the situation so that there were no unreasonable expectations, which in turn will help to weaken the influence of populist statements and resistance to any changes," she said, stressing that the EBA Health Committee, for its part, will continue to take an active position and provide expert support.