Income and consumption of medical care through the lens of protected goods' approach

The article examines the influence of income on the level of consumption of medical care in the context of the theory of patronased goods, that implies active participation of the state in the development of health care system. Based on literature review and analisys of empirical data, relevant methodological problems are discussed, including the direction of influence of income on health status and consumption of medical care, with an emphasis on the organization and financing of health care. The specificity of the situation in Russia is noted, where the low level of public funding alongside the expansion of fee for service due to development of private medicine and the possibility of charging fees by public medical organizations potentially create barriers to access to medical care for low-income citizens. However, the state health care system remains an important factor in mitigating the problem; therefore, the influence of income on utilisation of medical care in Russia is indirect. The author suggests that in order to neutralize the impact of income on consumption of medical care, it is necessary to ensure universal access to healh care, an important condition being adequate public funding rather than increase of people's income.