The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine expects the package of draft laws on retrofitting healthcare, education and pension sectors be finally endorsed by the Verkhovna Rada in September, which will provide an opportunity to adjust the draft budget for 2018 and launch the transformation processes as soon as possible. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during the Decentralization Forum in Ternopil.

"It is essential for us to adopt the reforms in September, launch them since the new year, adjust the budget for 2018 and make further progress", the Head of Government said.

He thanked the MPs for adopting draft laws on first reading and promised the documents would be thoroughly prepared for second reading with taking into account maximum amendments, being in number more than 1.5 thousand to the draft law on education and about 800 to the bill on medical reform.

"No less important is the pension reform. This is perhaps the first system reform that will allow us to transform the distorted system into a smooth and debt-neutral one. When the decision is made, in September, we will be able to raise pensions for 9 million retirees. And those are people who had been working lifelong, but now they live on the minimum pensions", said Volodymyr Groysman.

He emphasized that transformations proved badly needed for Ukraine in whole, as the range of financial and managerial imbalances had led to grave debt load and actual destruction of the essence of the pension system, half of which is subsidized. "An additional 5% of GDP we spend on security and defense. These expenses appear necessary to increase. Hence, it’s another challenge. So, we need reforms as air to breathe”, explained the Prime Minister.