Problems of Social Hygiene, Public Health and History of MedicineProblems of Social Hygiene, Public Health and History of Medicine0869-866X2412-2106Joint-Stock Company Chicot204810.32687/0869-866X-2023-31-s1-908-911Научная статьяSOME ASPECTS OF ENSURING PATIENTS' RIGHTS AND ACCESSIBILITY OF MEDICAL CARE IN AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, GERMANY AND ESTONIAAmlaevK. R.MazharovV. N.Stavropol State Medical University, 355017, Stavropol, Russia1109202331S390891104082025Copyright © 1970,1970The article devoted to ensuring the rights of patients and the availability of medical care in Austria, Belgium, Germany and Estonia notes the experience of creating an institute of independent ombudsmen who plays an important role in this issue. Basically, in these countries, the choice of a medical organization and a doctor is possible, and in Belgium the right to choose an insurance organization is granted. Patients in these countries are given the right to control the process of providing them with medical care, including its payment and joint decision-making with the doctor on treatment tactics. The State also ensures the patients right to receive preventive and restorative services provided to children free of charge, and compensated for adults in 80% of cases. It is impossible not to recognize the high percentage of citizens of these countries, reaching 98%, satisfied with the medical services provided to them. However, in some countries there is an imbalance in the availability of medical care, which is expressed by high availability of family doctor services and low availability of specialist services, as in Estonia. Nevertheless, this does not cause an increase in the level of corruption in the medical spheres of these countries, which is below the European average. According to the totality of indicators of the availability of medical care, Germany is the leader among the analyzed countries.healthcare systemsaccessibility of medical carepatients' rightshealthcare abroadсистемы здравоохранениядоступность медицинской помощиправа пациентовздравоохранение за рубежом1.Bachner F., Bobek J., Habimana K. et al. Austria: health system review // Health Syst. Transit. 2018. Vol. 20, N 3. P. 1—254.2.Blümel M., Spranger A., Achstetter K. et al. Germany: health system review // Health Syst. Transit. 2020. Vol. 22, N 6. P. 1—272.3.Osborn R., Squires D., Doty M. M. et al. In new survey of eleven countries, US adults still struggle with access to and affordability of health care // Health Aff. (Millwood). 2016. Vol. 35, N 12. P. 2327–2336. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.10884.Schneider E. C., Sarnak D. O., Squires D. et al. Mirror, Mirror 2017: international comparison reflects flaws and opportunities for better health care. N.Y.; 2017. 29 p.5.Schoen C., Osborn R., Squires D. et al. New 2011 survey of patients with complex care needs in eleven countries finds that care is often poorly coordinated // Health Aff. (Millwood). 2011. Vol. 30, N 12. P. 2437–2448. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2011.09236.Schoen C., Osborn R., Squires D., Doty M. M. Access, affordability, and insurance complexity are often worse in the United States compared to ten other countries // Health Aff. (Millwood). 2013. Vol. 32, N 12. P. 2205–2215. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.08797.Röttger J., Blümel M., Köppen J., Busse R. Forgone care among chronically ill patients in Germany — results from a cross-sectional survey with 15,565 individuals // Health Policy. 2016. Vol. 120, N 2. P. 170–178. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.01.004