Today, on November 27, the Government has approved the Medical Guarantees Program, which will be launched from April 1, 2020, becoming the second wave of healthcare system transformation. The Medical Guarantees Program will apply for all types of medical care: primary, specialized, highly specialized, emergency, palliative care, medical rehabilitation and drug reimbursement. The State will finance such services through the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU).

“The State already pays for primary healthcare services following the 'money follows the patient' principle. The person goes to a family doctor, pediatrician or therapist and receives free services. A physician providing services to a number of patients receives a decent salary. Now the new funding rules will start to apply for specialized medical care, the so-called secondary care,” explained Oleksiy Honcharuk. “For this purpose, secondary level medical institutions must conclude contracts with the National Health Service of Ukraine. From April 1, the Medical Guarantees Program will be in effect for all types of care."

According to the decision of the Government, from January 1, 2020, the financing of medical services for the provision of primary healthcare from the state budget continues. The “Available Medicines” program is prolonged and will expand.

Contracts for the provision of medical services are concluded with the National Health Service of Ukraine. To do that, they should be transformed into communal nonprofit enterprises, be equipped with computers with the installed information healthcare system to connect to eHealth national system.

The Government has also adopted a decision to introduce hospital districts system so that patients have access to the high quality and efficient network of healthcare facilities. Also, to provide easy and fast access for Ukrainian citizens to such institutions.

Moreover, at the Government session, the sum worth UAH 326 million has been allotted as additional financing of the medical subvention, first of all, for the payment of wage arrears to doctors. Additional funding to the tune of UAH 233 million will be allocated for the “Treatment abroad” program, which will allow to get rehabilitation services abroad for 94 people by the end of 2019.

With its other decision, the Government has approved four public health strategies aimed at preventing illnesses and improving health. For example, a Strategy on the development of immunoprophylaxis up to 2022. According to the Minister of Health of Ukraine Zoriana Skaletska, among the objectives included in the Government's Action Program is to reach immunization rate at the level of 95%. Therefore, the Strategy will aim to identify a comprehensive list of top priority measures to achieve this goal.