This year, the Government has spent more than UAH 35 billion on financing coronavirus control measures, in particular surcharges for doctors, the purchase of oxygen and oxygen stations, funding for test labs, and more. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told during a regular session of the Cabinet of Ministers on December 29.

Denys Shmyhal stressed that in 2021 the Government had focused a lot on counteracting the pandemic. And vaccination against COVID-19 has become one of the principal objectives this year.

"I consider that our team, led by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has coped with this task. We have launched a free vaccination campaign for all citizens. All available vaccines are safe and tested. And most importantly - they protect against severe disease. In the near future, 50% of adult Ukrainians will be vaccinated. There are enough vaccines so that everyone can get immunized," the Head of Government noted.

According to the Prime Minister, more than 40 million doses of vaccines have been delivered to Ukraine since the start of the year.

Moreover, Denys Shmyhal emphasized the significant progress made in the development of the healthcare system in 2021.

"Doctors' salaries have raised by an average of 30%. Three million patients can benefit from the Affordable Medicines program, which has been expanded by almost 50% this year. More than 700 new ambulances have been purchased this year. Hundreds of emergency departments of hub hospitals were renovated and hundreds of units of medical equipment were purchased. Funding for the prevention and treatment of cancer, heart attacks, strokes and other diseases has increased," the Head of Government said.

According to the Prime Minister, the Government is increasing funding for each area, because they are well aware that all these resources are being transformed into a qualitatively new medical system that saves tens and hundreds of thousands of lives of Ukrainians.