Healthcare in the 2026 Budget: free checkups, expanding the Affordable Medicines programme, and raising doctors' salaries to UAH 35,000
Healthcare remains one of the key priorities of state policy. In 2026, state budget expenditures on healthcare (including transfers) will amount to UAH 258.6 billion , which is by UAH 38.8 billion more than in 2025.
"The 2026 budget provides for a systematic strengthening of the medical sector — from primary care to highly specialised care. We are increasing funding for the medical guarantees programme, expanding the Affordable Medicines programme, and launching the national Health Screening 40+ programme. This will improve the quality and accessibility of medical services and ensure decent pay for doctors. Investing in people's health is investing in the stability of the state and its future," emphasised First Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Roman Yermolychev.
An important area is the implementation of the medical guarantees programme, to which UAH 191.6 billion will be allocated in 2026, by UAH 16.1 billion more than in 2025. This will, in particular, strengthen primary and emergency care and expand the list of services, including the treatment of complex military injuries and cardiac surgery.
The planned expenditure under the medical guarantees programme will allow the salaries of primary and emergency care doctors to be increased to UAH 35,000.
There are also plans to expand the programme of free medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and other chronic diseases, which citizens can obtain free of charge or with partial payment under the Affordable Medicines programme. A total of UAH 8.7 billion hryvnias has been allocated for its implementation in 2026.
In 2026, the state will introduce a new preventive programme — health screening for citizens aged 40+. From 1 January 2026, citizens aged 40 and over will be offered free screening for the early detection of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and mental health disorders. UAH 10 billion (targeted payments of UAH 2,000) is earmarked for the implementation of this programme in 2026.
The budget also includes UAH 15.2 billion (UAH 4 billion hryvnias more than in the budget for the beginning of 2025 in comparable terms) for the centralised procurement of medicines and medical devices for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, oncology, cardiovascular diseases, rare orphan diseases, as well as for the purchase of vaccines, etc.
Investments in medical infrastructure remain a separate priority. UAH 19.1 billion is earmarked for public investment projects in the healthcare sector. These funds will be used to upgrade equipment, renovate hospitals and expand the capabilities of medical facilities at the community and regional levels.