Budget 2020: Money Follows the Patient principle will be operational at all levels of medical care starting April of next year

Today, on November 14, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed the State Budget for 2020. Expenditures for the healthcare sector were budgeted in the amount of UAH 113 billion for the next year. This is by 13% more than the current year's budget. Let us focus on the priority areas in healthcare in 2020.

Starting April 2020, the Medical Guarantees Program (MGP) will be launched for the first time in Ukraine. It includes 6 types of medical care: primary, specialized outpatient, hospital, emergency, palliative and rehabilitation as well as drug reimbursement. This means that in April 2020, a ‘Money Follows the Patient’ principle will be in effect at all levels of medical care. The MGP is implemented by the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU).

The Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget” envisages expenditures for the MGP to the tune of UAH 72 billion which makes up 64% of the budget for the whole healthcare sector.

In particular:

for primary healthcare - UAH 19.1 billion;

for specialized outpatient and hospital care under the new funding model since April 1, 2020 - UAH 44.4 billion;

for emergency medical care provided under the MGP - UAH 4.6 billion (by 22% more against the showings in the budget of 2019);

for medical rehabilitation - UAH 0.5 billion;

for palliative care - UAH 0.3 billion.

for the development of emergency medical care as a separate direction - UAH 1.9 billion.

In the next year’s budget, the sum worth UAH 2.1 billion is to be allocated for the Government's Available Medicines program, which is by UAH 1.2 billion more than in the current year. Under the Program, Ukrainians receive medicines to cure cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes and bronchial asthma for free or with a small charge by electronic prescription from a doctor (therapist, family doctor or pediatrician).

Budget outflows to cure diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus are budgeted in the amount about UAH 1.2 billion for next year. Substantial changes in the reimbursement of insulin drugs will take place from April 2020 – financing will be carried out by the NHSU. And in the first quarter, the corresponding financing will be provided with a subvention.