Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman announced during a strategic interdepartmental forum "Medical Reform: Funding, Management, Primary Medical Care" on Thursday the Government would launch shortly a comprehensive reform in the healthcare sector of Ukraine and would table proposals soon.

"We should see the situation in healthcare as a challenge to which we must respond effectively and adequately. The Government is ready to take appropriate decisions. We are planning in the near future, following the discussions, to come out with proposals for introduction of the healthcare reform in our country," said Volodymyr Groysman.

In the framework of changing the health system it is viewed as necessary, in particular, to prepare and introduce insurance medicine, to restore a scheme in which funds for a medical service "follow the patient" who wishes to access this particular service, noted the Prime Minister. Among other important measures are the creation of hospital districts and a reform of primary care.

Moreover, according to him, the work of medical personnel needs objective assessment. "We must clearly understand that the one who provides qualified medical assistance must receive relevant wage," urged Volodymyr Groysman.

In this regard the Prime Minister stressed that the proposals for reform models should be publicly discussed and enjoy consensus inside the society - then they will be adopted fast and launched.

"The healthcare reform is complicated and requires a consolidated decision not only on the part of authorities, but also among experts, with having support of the Ukrainian Parliament. It is vital for us to do our utmost and find the system that will enable us to solve urgent problems of Ukrainian citizens,” said Volodymyr Groysman. “From legislative initiatives to introduction – everyone will understand what needs to be done in order to improve the quality of medical services".

The Head of Government called on members of local authorities, experts and the Parliament to unite and realize the need to change the healthcare system. "Then the reform having been much talked about will become a reality," he said.

"We got enough people who died at a young age just because we don’t have prevention measures, available drugs, high-quality equipment. It’s enough to make doctors suffer from extremely poor conditions, inappropriate labor remuneration and other things. We are not the first ones to do it, but we can be the first ones to bring in a successful reform in our country".

The Prime Minister emphasized: "For the Government, for me personally the retrofitting of the healthcare system is among the topmost priorities."

Namely, among initial decisions of the Government backed by the Parliament there were adopted legislative measures called to simplify the registration of medicines produced in the EU, the U.S.A., Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Australia to be sold in Ukraine’s market, he reminded.

Moreover, the Government endorsed a resolution on introduction of reference pricing and a reimbursement mechanism for drugs to cure cardiovascular disease, diabetes type II and bronchial asthma that would come in effect from January 1, 2017, thereby enabling to fix fair prices for medicines in Ukraine.

In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers resumed the construction of a new medical and diagnostic ward of the national children's specialized hospital Okhmatdyt and spares no effort to ensure the activities be finalized according to the schedule.

In the draft Budget for 2017, the Government increased the resource for the centralized procurement of medicines by UAH 2 billion to meet the needs of citizens, envisaged UAH 150 million to support the establishment of cardiovascular surgery centers in cities across the country and the purchase of necessary equipment.

There was also planned the rise of salaries for doctors by 20%. Given a twofold increase in the minimum wage rate in 2017, on average healthcare sector’s employees will earn by 30% more, said the Head of Government.

The Prime Minister stressed that the healthcare system in Ukraine is in a terrible state. "It fails to meet the demands of both people working with the system and those seeking for medical aid".

"Today we should take a joint decision regarding changes in the entire system, thereby aligning it with the needs of our state and, most importantly, making it respond properly to the challenges our society has been facing. Among the essential criteria are health and lives of Ukrainian citizens", highlighted Volodymyr Groysman.