New rules for the provision of medical services by state and municipal institutions will come into effect in Ukraine from January 1, 2025. The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution that provides for the possibility of providing paid medical services in cases not covered by the state guarantee program.
When will you have to pay for medical care?
Paid services will be provided in the following cases:
- Referral without a doctor's referral (except in cases where a referral is not required).
- Medical services under contracts with legal entities.
- Services in security and defense sector facilities for patients who do not belong to the attached contingent.
- Services not included in the medical guarantee program.
Additional services that are paid separately:
- Medical care at home at the patient's request (unless this is due to his condition).
- Ability to choose a doctor for scheduled specialized care.
- Stay in a ward with increased comfort at the patient's request.
Transparency and price control
All state and municipal healthcare institutions are obliged to:
- Post a full list of paid and free services, indicating their cost, on official websites and information stands.
- Ensure that paid services are documented and entered into the electronic healthcare system.
- Accept payment exclusively in cashless form.
The cost of paid services will be determined by the institutions themselves, allowing them to adapt to the financial needs and capabilities of patients.
What remains free?
Primary and emergency medical care will be provided without referrals and payment. In addition, you can contact the following specialists without a referral:
- obstetrician-gynecologist,
- psychiatrist,
- narcologist,
- dentist,
- pediatrician,
- phthisiologist,
- a doctor who is supervising a patient due to a chronic illness.
Benefits of reform
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that these changes are aimed at improving the quality of services and transparency of healthcare financing. Thanks to this, patients will be able to choose the conditions of service convenient for them, while public hospitals will receive additional financial resources for development.
