"Given the lack of systematic research on the assessment of patient payment policies in Europe and worldwide, and the urging need of (re-)evaluating patient payment policies in Central and Eastern Europe due to the widely spread informal patient payments, our project will focus on these issues. The aim of the project is to identify a comprehensive set of tangible evidence-based criteria suitable for the assessment of patient payment policies and to develop a policy projection tool that can be used to analyze the efficiency, equity and quality impacts of these polices. The set of assessment criteria and the projection tool that will be developed in this project, will be validated by their application in Central and Eastern European countries. In addition to this, the project aims to assure an extensive dissemination of project results involving policy-makers, health care professionals and the general public. The project results will contribute to the overall progress in research focused on the methodology of policy evaluation, as well as in research focused on the analysis of the Central and Eastern European health care reforms. Seven countries will be included: advanced Central European countries (Hungary and Poland), advanced former Soviet republics in Europe (Lithuania), less advanced Eastern European countries (Bulgaria and Romania), and less advanced Former Soviet republics in Europe (Ukraine). The comparison between these countries will help to establish to what extent the country context influences the evaluation of patient payment policies. The project will have a direct relation to Theme 8, but will also address the general objectives defined in the work program, of policy harmonization, capacity building, mobility of scholars, strengthening competitiveness, international cooperation and solution to social problems."