Methodological foundations of health economics

The problem of the health economics development is considered in the article. Attention is focused on the global significance of this sphere for each person and society as a whole. The relationship between the state of the healthcare sector, as well as the conditions for its provision and preservation with the assessment of the socio-economic development of countries are presented. The analysis of scientific publications revealed that the methodological foundations of the health economics are not sufficiently formed, despite its existence for a fairly long period of time. Even the definition of its essence by scientists and practical economists remains ambiguous. The specification of the methodological foundations of the health economics provides a theoretical basis for a deeper understanding of its significance, will contribute to the formation and development of such a sector of the economy in Ukraine. Improving the methodological foundations includes the main components of the methodology. The conceptual and categorical apparatus of the economy has been improved, namely the essence of the category "health economics". It is defined as a special area of the national economics which provides an economic justification for the need to generate the necessary resources in the healthcare sector at all levels, the fairness of their distribution and the effectiveness of their use. This makes it possible to maximize the strengthening and improvement of people's health by organizing and informing the population about nonmedical measures for preventing diseases, as well as providing medical care. The goal of health economics is summarized on the basis of existing approaches to this by other researchers. The features of the functioning of this economy sphere are presented. A number of functions have been proposed and their generalized list has been formed, including functions defined by other researchers. The complex of the tasks of the health economics has been supplemented. It will work effectively if its activity is carried out in accordance with certain principles. The article presents a set of basic principles of health economics, supplemented by the authors. The role of economists in its development, formation of state policy, strengthening of public health is presented.