Starting 1 April, there will be launched a process of providing free medicines for chronic patients with hypertension, diabetes type II and bronchial asthma, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said during a Government meeting on Wednesday.

"From April 1, we are starting procedures to provide free drugs for Ukrainian citizens – those having such illnesses as hypertension, diabetes type II and asthma. Medicines for these categories of chronic patients will be provided in Ukraine free of charge from 1 April", said Volodymyr Groysman.

There have been allocated UAH 0.5 billion for this programme, said the Head of Government.

The aforesaid programme will be available for all pharmacy chains. "Just offer reasonable prices, quality medications and the state will pay you money for that," urged the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers have drafted all the necessary legal acts, held dozens meetings with all market participants - manufacturers, importers and pharmacy chains. In fact, all the mechanisms have been applied, said the Head of Government.

In this context, he called on the leadership of regional and district state administrations to guarantee implementation of these solutions in each particular area they are responsible for.

Moreover, Volodymyr Groysman reminded that on 1 March the Government had turned a corner in the issue of optimization of drug prices.

He noted that drug prices were thoroughly monitored and this process yielded result. For instance, some pharmacies have reduced prices on medicines by 20% -70% along different positions. "This is only the beginning, yet the system is not stable," said the Head of Government.

"The Government is committed to get reduction of prices on medicines in Ukraine to cure diseases belonging to three ICD categories," assured the Prime Minister.