Government expands list of territories where employment qualifies young doctors for UAH 200,000 support payment

The Government of Ukraine has adopted a decision expanding the list of territories where employment will qualify young doctors for a one-off targeted support payment of UAH 200,000 under the state programme for supporting medical personnel.

The programme applies to graduates of medical specialties who have completed their internship at a state higher education institution under the management of the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Education and Science and who take up employment for three years at state- or municipally-owned healthcare facilities in communities facing a critical shortage of medical staff.

Previously, the programme covered graduates employed in areas of active hostilities and rural communities. It has now been extended to healthcare facilities located in areas of possible hostilities (except Kyiv region and the regional centres of Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv and Chernihiv).

The changes are aimed at strengthening the capacity of the healthcare system and improving staffing levels in regions where healthcare services remain under increased pressure and shortages of doctors across various specialties persist.

The decision takes into account proposals submitted by regional military administrations during a meeting of the Coordination Centre for the management of regions affected by hostilities or temporary occupation by the russian federation, held on 5 November 2025.

The Government introduced the programme in 2025 to support young doctors working in rural and frontline communities. Last year, 83 doctors received the one-off UAH 200,000 payment under the initiative. The programme will remain in force until the end of martial law, with the possibility of extension.