The Ministry of Finance Supports Implementation of the Pilot Project for the Aeromedicine in Ukraine

On February 3, 2021, a trilateral meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine was held with the participation of First Deputy Minister of Finance Denys Uliutin and Deputy Minister of Finance Roman Yermolychev.

On the agenda of the meeting there were the following items: the introduction of a pilot project for aeromedical evacuation in Lviv and Kyiv regions, as well as the air transportation of anatomical materials.

These are new opportunities in the healthcare of Ukraine in terms of saving lives and the development of transplantology, in particular, the transportation of donor's hearts. The air transport of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine will be used for this purpose.

According to the representatives of the Ministry of Health, the implementation of the pilot project for aeromedical evacuation will be carried out by trained medical personnel of emergency medical care. In addition, aeromedical transport will be given preference in obtaining permits for departure. The participants of the meeting also stressed the readiness of healthcare facilities to respond promptly to all life-saving cases.

"We understand the importance of implementing the pilot project and support it. At the same time, it is necessary to analyze from which revenues and to which structure of expenditures the state budget funds will be allocated. We must avoid double financing and to direct funds as efficiently as possible so that people's lives and health would be safe", noted First Deputy Minister of Finance Denys Uliutin.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed the possibilities of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs to implement a pilot project, in particular, to involve two H-145 helicopters of the National Police of Ukraine in its implementation. There was discussed the availability of hangars, ground and air service personnel, sites equipped for the convenient landing of aircraft, maintenance costs and compensation of fuels and lubricants, etc.

“In order to implement this pilot project, which is extremely necessary for the development of healthcare, we must agree in working order all the details of the draft act developed by the Ministry of Health to avoid possible risks. In addition, we must calculate the funds taking into account the projected figures of the number of flight hours of rescue air services. This needs to be done quickly, so it is not necessary to procrastinate in making decisions," said Deputy Minister of Finance Roman Yermolychev.

In the near future, the Ministry of Health should submit to the Ministry of Finance a previously agreed document, which will allow the implementation of a joint pilot project with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.