In 2026, in line with the Government's strategic decisions, the “Healthy Heart” area has been made one of the priorities of the Program of Medical Guarantees (PMG). The aim is to strengthen care for people with cardiovascular diseases — from prevention and diagnosis to the treatment of acute conditions, complex surgery and subsequent recovery.
Cardiac surgery — medical care that includes operations on the heart and great vessels — is an important part of this patient pathway.
Within the “Healthy Heart” area, special attention is paid to pediatric cardiac surgery. This covers the treatment of children with congenital heart defects and other complex heart conditions that require highly specialized surgery. A new feature of PMG-2026 is the introduction of higher rates for pediatric cardiac surgery — in 2025, no additional pediatric coefficient was applied to such procedures.
The Program of Medical Guarantees 2026 allocates UAH 5.187 billion to cardiac surgery — over UAH 2.12 billion more than in 2025. The increased investment is meant to ensure that adults and young patients can receive the care they need on time, safely and without financial barriers for their families.
In 2026, the approach to paying for treatment has changed. The state now directs more support to healthcare facilities with the most experience in performing complex operations. Increased funding goes to hospitals that regularly perform a large number of heart procedures, as well as operations for heart attacks.
This makes it possible to concentrate complex operations in facilities with the greatest surgical experience. In addition, payment for certain procedures now takes into account how complex the operation is. The National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) developed the updated payment mechanisms together with the Association of Cardiac Surgeons of Ukraine.
In 2026, operations are therefore divided by level of complexity — high, moderate and low. As a result, rates for cardiac surgery procedures under the Program of Medical Guarantees have risen significantly. For some operations, payment has increased 2–4 times, depending on the complexity of the case and the patient's age group.
For example:
Heart valve operations with cardiopulmonary bypass
- adults: in 2025 — UAH 115,354, in 2026 — from UAH 236,820 to UAH 294,481
- children: in 2025 — UAH 124,967, in 2026 — from UAH 256,555 to UAH 319,021.
Other cardiothoracic operations with cardiopulmonary bypass
- adults: in 2025 — UAH 62,284, in 2026 — from UAH 163,467 to UAH 294,198
- children: in 2025 — UAH 67,474, in 2026 — from UAH 177,089 to UAH 318,715.
Reconstruction of the great vessels
- adults: in 2025 — UAH 37,452, in 2026 — from UAH 101,214 to UAH 253,130
- children: in 2025 — UAH 40,573, in 2026 — from UAH 109,649 to UAH 274,224.
Interventional procedures for acute myocardial infarction
- adults: in 2025 — UAH 22,369, in 2026 — from UAH 45,398 to UAH 74,003
- children: in 2025 — UAH 24,233, in 2026 — from UAH 49,181 to UAH 80,171.
Another key change in cardiac surgery in 2026 is wider patient access to planned stenting. Previously, patients were provided with stent systems only in emergencies; since the beginning of the year, they have also been free of charge for planned operations. Payment for interventional coronary procedures (stenting) performed outside of acute myocardial infarction is UAH 35,578 for low-complexity procedures and UAH 58,446 for high-complexity procedures. For children, it is UAH 59,934, taking into account the relevant coefficient.
For comparison: in 2025, the rate for such procedures was UAH 18,387. Overall, payment for surgical stenting services in 2026 has increased about 3.2 times compared to 2025.
One of the highest rates in cardiac surgery has been set for implanting a mechanical circulatory support device — UAH 745,096. This is a new group introduced in 2026.
PMG-2026 also introduces a rate that includes an additional trauma coefficient for certain cardiac surgery procedures. In particular, the rate for reconstruction of the great vessels without cardiopulmonary bypass is UAH 90,227, and for other general procedures on the circulatory system in trauma cases, UAH 60,002.
In addition, the patient's stay in the intensive care unit is paid separately, on top of the cost of open surgery.
These changes make it possible to determine more precisely the resources needed for treatment and to ensure appropriate payment for the most complex operations. For patients, this means that complex operations are concentrated in facilities where doctors have extensive experience and the necessary equipment, which significantly improves the effectiveness and safety of treatment.
Heart surgery for adults and children under the Program of Medical Guarantees is performed by 79 healthcare facilities that have contracts with the NHSU for the packages “Surgical operations for adults and children in inpatient settings” and “Surgical operations for adults and children in one-day inpatient settings”. The list of facilities is available here.
Importantly, expensive medical devices — stents, pacemakers, artificial heart valves and oxygenators — are purchased centrally with state budget funds and delivered to hospitals. They are also completely free of charge for patients.
At the same time, as funding for cardiac surgery increases, control over free-of-charge treatment is being tightened. Following a Government instruction, in 2026 the NHSU will carry out separate monitoring of hospitals specifically for cardiac surgery procedures. Its purpose is to make sure that facilities comply with the terms of their NHSU contracts and that patients receive the necessary operations and medical devices free of charge.
Patient pathway
For patients who need planned heart surgery, the pathway to care starts with a visit to a family doctor or the attending cardiologist, who issues an e-referral for hospitalization or surgery. With this referral, the patient can choose any healthcare facility in Ukraine that has a contract with the NHSU for the relevant package of medical services. In an emergency, such as an acute myocardial infarction, all the necessary medical care, including surgery (if needed), is also free for the patient, whether they are brought in by an emergency medical team or come in on their own.
If a patient is asked to pay for services that should be free under the Program of Medical Guarantees, or is refused state-guaranteed medical care, contact the NHSU contact center at 16-77 or file a complaint via the official NHSU website.