Medical Guarantees Program
The Medical Guarantees Program is a list and scope of medical services, medicines, and medical devices that the state guarantees to the population and pays for from the state budget at uniform rates for all healthcare facilities.
The program does not promise that all services will be free of charge, but it guarantees a clearly defined list within the budget that the country can afford.
The main principles of the Medical Guarantees Program are universality and extraterritoriality. This means that every person, regardless of their place of registration or residence, can receive the same free medical services at any hospital in the country that has a contract with the NHSU.
Each year, the Medical Guarantees Program is updated and expanded.
The Medical Guarantees Program consists of the “Accessible Medicines” reimbursement program and service packages that cover all major types of medical care:
- Emergency medical care
- Palliative care
- Primary medical care (provided by family doctors, general practitioners, and pediatricians)
- Medical care for children and maternal care during pregnancy and childbirth
- Specialized medical care (outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, surgeries, diagnostics, etc.)
- Rehabilitation services in healthcare
Each package specifies the list of medical services and medicines that a person can receive free of charge when seeking a particular type of medical care. In addition, the service packages outline the requirements for medical facilities: what equipment must be available in the hospital and which medical specialists should be on staff.
You can find more detailed information about all service packages here. Select the service you need: in the “Specification” section, free services available to patients are described, while the “Procurement Conditions” section lists the requirements for medical facilities that want to provide services under this package.
The Medical Guarantees Program includes priority services. These are medical services aimed at reducing the prevalence of diseases that most significantly affect the life expectancy and quality of life of people in Ukraine. High-quality care is required for these priority conditions, so medical facilities receive higher tariffs from the NHSU for providing such services.
Such priority packages include:
- Treatment of acute myocardial infarction
- Treatment of acute stroke
- Assistance during childbirth
- Neonatal care
- Endoscopic examinations for early diagnosis of oncological diseases (mammography, hysteroscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, bronchoscopy)
- Rehabilitation in the healthcare sector
- Psychological support
The rules for receiving medical care under the Medical Guarantees Program are the same for everyone.
Access to most free services is provided through a declaration with a primary care physician: general practice, family medicine, therapy, or pediatric care for children. In 2024, patients who temporarily reside in other settlements in Ukraine and need medical care should contact the nearest medical facility that has a contract with the NHSU and sign a declaration with a family doctor. Only if necessary will the doctor create an electronic referral for consultation with another specialist, for examinations, etc. With the referral, the patient can freely choose the hospital where they can undergo examination or treatment.
An electronic referral is not required:
- To receive emergency or primary care
- For consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist, psychiatrist, narcologist, phthisiatrist, psychologist, or pediatrician
- To visit a doctor who is already monitoring the patient for a chronic condition
You can view the full list of free services under the Medical Guarantees Program at the following link.