Implementation Issues and Opportunities of The "Zemsky Doctor" Program

Over the past 20 years, the Russian healthcare system was modernized considerably but at the moment there are a lot of problems that remain unresolved. One of the most crucial problems in the Russian healthcare system now is the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas, which negatively impacts the quality of medical service. In 2012 the “Zemsky Doctor” program was implemented for improving the situation. However, little is known about the efficiency of the program. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the «Zemsky Doctor» Program, its efficiency, the expediency of application in rural areas. The present study explores the «Zemsky Doctor» influence on healthcare professionals’ motivation to work in rural areas. The empirical study will be based on conducting a systematic literature review, administering a questionnaire-based survey of medical students, and performing interviews with participants of the program. The preliminary results imply that: 1) the main reason for failure to participate in the program are rural living conditions; 2) medical workers who have a long experience of living in rural areas mostly agree to participate in it.