The reform of the healthcare system is ongoing in Ukraine. In the next 2-3 years, Ukrainians will begin to receive free services under the program of medical guarantees, including medicines.
The state program of medical guarantees will include medical services in 6 areas: primary care, emergency care, specialized outpatient care, specialized inpatient care, palliative care and rehabilitation.
Primary care is already working on the system “money follows the patient” – signing a declaration with a family doctor makes it possible to finance a medical institution and pay salaries to a doctor depending on the actual number of patients. In the coming years, this principle will apply to other parts of medicine.
It is important for patients to know that the medical guarantee system will provide full coverage of the cost of emergency medical services, regardless of whether there is a declaration with a family doctor. But to cover planned specialized services, an appointment card from a family doctor is necessary, therefore a declaration is required. The patient will be able to independently choose a medical institution that has an agreement with the National Health Service of Ukraine, and a doctor who can be consulted in the direction. Medicines will be included in the coverage of medical services under the guarantee program, but an improved service – no, hospitals will be able to charge for services such as an improved patient’s room.
In addition, the primary link of medical services will begin to use electronic documents – they will fully introduce electronic referrals to doctors and e-hospital ones. They also promise the introduction of e-recipes, e-certificates and the like.
