The “Affordable Medicines” program continues to operate during the war.
The number of medicines that can be obtained free of charge or with a small co-payment is even growing. The state continues to reimburse pharmacies for their cost, ensuring that Ukrainians have access to essential medicines.
In 2022, 10,168,541 prescriptions were redeemed, with actual reimbursements totaling UAH 2.243 billion.
When Ukrainians, because of the military aggression of the Russian Federation, faced a decline not only in their health but also in their financial situation, the program became especially important for many people.
The state reimbursement program covers more than 400 medicines. These include medicines for:
- cardiovascular diseases;
- type 2 diabetes;
- insulins;
- prevention of strokes and heart attacks;
- mental and behavioral disorders;
- epilepsy;
- treatment of bronchial asthma;
- treatment of diabetes insipidus;
- Parkinson's disease
- and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
To start receiving medicines under the “Affordable Medicines” program during martial law, the patient should contact:
- for cardiovascular diseases, bronchial asthma or type 2 diabetes — their own doctor, with whom they have signed a declaration with a family doctor, or any other primary care family doctor.
This is because primary care for internally displaced persons (IDPs) is provided in full, and a declaration is not required for it. The doctor will examine the patient, make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment, including medication. So people who have moved to other places and have no contact with their family doctor, general practitioner or pediatrician can get a prescription at the nearest primary care center.
- for mental and behavioral disorders — a psychiatrist;
- epilepsy — a psychiatrist or neurologist;
- the initial insulin regimen is prescribed by an endocrinologist, who accordingly also writes the insulin prescriptions
- for diabetes insipidus, the first prescription must also be issued by an endocrinologist.
For repeat prescriptions, patients can then go to primary care doctors.
During martial law, pharmacies accept both paper and electronic prescriptions.
If the doctor has access to the electronic health care system (eHealth), they will create an e-prescription, and the prescription number and confirmation code will be sent to the patient's phone. If there is no access to eHealth, the doctor will write a paper prescription with their signature and stamp.
With this prescription, the patient can go to a pharmacy that has a contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) to dispense medicines and receive the medicines free of charge.
You can find the nearest such pharmacy by calling 16-77 (NHSU contact center).
During martial law, insulin prescriptions are issued for one month of treatment. In an insulin prescription, the doctor may omit the brand names of the medicines and instead specify the insulin according to the following classification:
- genetically engineered human insulin, short-acting or intermediate-acting;
- rapid-acting insulin analog;
- long-acting insulin analog;
- premixed insulins (genetically engineered human insulin 30/70, analog insulin 30/70).
Forty-seven insulin products remain completely free of charge, and another 29 can be purchased with a small co-payment of 15% of the retail price.
The state guarantees patients with diabetes free access to basic insulin treatment. Basic treatment depends on the category the endocrinologist assigns to the patient and includes either human insulin products or insulin analogs of the appropriate form.
All patients with insulin-dependent diabetes have free access to basic treatment. Those who wish to receive a different type or kind of insulin can get it with a co-payment of 15% of the price.
The “Affordable Medicines” reimbursement program has no territorial restrictions within the country, so patients can get their medicines wherever it is convenient for them.
More useful information is available in the “Spytai Hrytsia” chatbot (https://t.me/SpytaiGrytsia_bot). The service will tell every patient, whether in a village, town or city, where to get medicines and which medicines are available under the “Affordable Medicines” program.