Joint statement of the Healthcare Ministry and the Ministry of Finance on sending citizens abroad for medical treatment

The life of Ukrainian citizens has the highest value for the state. Being well aware that due to some circumstances some of the citizens can’t finance expensive medical treatment abroad, the state provides funding to send some of the patients to other countries.
A special commission at the Healthcare Ministry processes submitted paperwork from patients, registers them and sets a list of patients whose treatment abroad will be funded from the state budget.

Funds for medical treatment abroad have been transferred to the Healthcare Ministry in as three equal tranches per year, which means that citizens have been sent abroad in three groups per year depending on the funds availability instead of their medical condition.

One of our goals is to establish medical services of the top level in Ukraine, so that our citizens can receive the necessary medical treatment at home. However, the condition of some patients requires urgent medical intervention.

To solve this issue, the Healthcare Ministry and the Ministry of Finance have agreed to change the funding scheme and to transfer all funds for medical treatment abroad in the beginning of the respective year, so that patients are sent abroad, as soon as the commission in charge has granted the approval. Applying this procedure, we shall have the entire amount by the end of March to send all entitled citizens for medical treatment abroad. This means they will be treated, when they need it.

On Saturday, the medical department of the Healthcare Ministry had an urgent meeting to prepare all necessary document for approval including the accurate lists of patients to be sent abroad, to clarify their condition, to set-up communication with their doctors as well as local healthcare departments to finalize all formalities. We are doing our best not to lose time, so that the commission can rapidly adopt all decisions and sign the documents entitling us to use the provided funds.

Representatives of the Healthcare Ministry and Ministry of Finance in charge for this issue are also due to meet on Monday to discuss the set-up of a reserve fund for medical treatment abroad which would make it possible to react properly on emergency situations with patients in a critical condition.

The Healthcare Ministry and Ministry of Finance are working closely and maintain proper coordination to implement amendments to the funding of healthcare with the aim to ensure state assistance and support to those who critically need it as well as to improve the quality of medical services.