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Access to Healthcare and Digitalization
Waiting time in a queue for a health care visit is one of the indicators of a doctor's accessibility. Digitalization reforms in the health care system in Russia during 2012-2016 involved the implementation of ‘terminals' or ‘infomats', allowing patients to view a doctor's available time and sign up for a visit. The research studies using the micro-level data about Living Standards conducted by the Federal State Statistics Service, which is representative on the regional and federal levels. Waiting time is measured as self-reported time by a patient that he/she spent waiting in a queue to see a doctor. The results of the research show a negative association between the usage of terminals and the waiting time in a queue. In addition, the opposite effect of terminals in different regions is discussed.