POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN UKRAINE: MAIN CAUSES AND FISCAL IMPACT

Despite a global economic and regional geopolitical crisis, the economy of Ukraine continues to develop and integrate into the world economy. At the same time, despite having rich natural, economic and human capital resources, Ukraine's economic growth is failing to significantly reduce overall poverty and inequality. Noninclusive economic growth, a large informal sector, a high level of corruption, and problems in health care delivery and infrastructure development are among the main causes of Ukraine's continuing poverty and inequality. Therefore, reforming government institutions at the administrative level, improving the legal framework, and implementing reforms to drive inclusive economic growth should be a top priority. In the field of health care, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of government health care institutions; control the fair and equitable provision of quality medical services; ensure access to health care and social infrastructure to different demographic groups and regions; improve the national health care model by reducing patients' out-of-pocket costs and increasing public spending on health care services; increase the social package of medical benefits; improve the quality of health care delivery in both the provision of health care services and disease prevention; and ensure control over the direction and use of public funds for health care. In the area of infrastructure development, it is necessary to implement measures aimed at reducing inequalities in access to quality infrastructure; improve the system of development of investment projects through administrative reform; establish better control over the use of public investment funds; and involve the private sector and international organizations in infrastructure development by utilizing the experience of advanced European economies.