Onokivka municipality became the first hromada in Zakarpattia oblast to sign an agreement on inter-municipal cooperation. Thanks to this, the local authorities were able to provide their outpatient clinics with medical specialists and relieve the pressure from the Uzhgorod primary healthcare center.

According to Renata Ivankiv, deputy head of Onokivka municipality, almost 1,500 patients returned to outpatient clinics on the municipality’s territory during the first year of operation in the new format. However, this was preceded by a long-term work with Uzhgorod colleagues and representatives of U-LEAD with Europe.

“At that time, most of our residents were receiving medical services outside the municipality. It didn't make sense to create our own communal non-profit enterprise, so we started looking for other ways. It turned out that the best solution was an agreement on inter-municipal cooperation. And colleagues from Uzhgorod supported us. At the time of signing the contract, 3,500 residents had declarations with general practitioners in the municipality, and today there are 5,000 of them declared,” Ms Ivankiv said.

Lyudmila Ivanova, head of the outpatient clinics at the Onokivka primary healthcare center, is convinced – today hromada’s medical facilities successfully compete even with private clinics in the oblast center.

“It has really become more convenient for our patients. Now they can solve all administrative medical issues near their workplaces, in Uzhgorod, without returning back home to the hromada. At the same time, emergency medical assistance can be provided at their place of residence. Thanks to this, doctors in our municipality have significantly increased the number of declarations with local residents. Even those who used to have declarations with doctors at private clinics are coming back,” Lyudmila Ivanova assured.

Throughout the preparation for the signing of the agreement and the entire transition period, the municipality was accompanied by U-LEAD representatives. Today, the local self-government of the municipality is convinced: a year ago they made a right decision.

“We are very satisfied with the cooperation with U-LEAD with Europe, especially now, already feeling and understanding the result of this cooperation and the inter-municipal cooperation agreement. We understand that we made the right step, that we were not afraid to try something new. We are very grateful to U-LEAD with Europe for support and advice. Now we understand how we should move, and we are moving forward together,” said Renata Ivankiv.