Management priorities for improving access to medical care in the Irkutsk Region: an open data analysis.
Abstract
Background. In large sparsely populated regions, access to medical care depends not only on the number of healthcare facilities and professionals, but also on territorial remoteness, patient routing, the condition of primary care, workforce distribution and programme management. Aim: to assess organizational constraints limiting access to medical care in the Irkutsk Region using published open data and to justify management priorities for improving access. Materials and methods. A descriptive analytical review of official statistical, regulatory and departmental materials was performed. Demographic indicators, healthcare workforce, primary care, infrastructure plans, clinically significant areas and implementation of selected development programmes were analyzed. Numerical indicators were compared with their sources and interpreted according to the methodology of publication. Re s u l t s . Published demographic materials indicate an unfavorable demographic background and the continuing need to strengthen prevention of premature mortality, early disease detection and follow-up care. Life expectancy in 2023 was 69.82 years. According to Irkutskstat, in 2024 there were 11,566 physicians and 25,412 nursing and other mid-level medical personnel. Official materials indicate differences between overall workforce availability across all types of healthcare organizations and staffing levels in state healthcare organizations. In 2024, 12,511 new cancer cases were detected, and tuberculosis incidence was 47.6 per 100,000 population. These data suggest that workforce policy, primary care, interdistrict routing and project management should be considered as interrelated elements of one management model. Conclusion. Improving access to medical care in the Irkutsk Region should be based on a territorially oriented management model: municipal workforce profiles, strengthening of primary care, development of interdistrict centres, regular outreach services, medical transport, electronic routing and project management of capital investments.