Since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine has adopted a number of decisions and measures to make it easier for Ukrainians to access the medical services and medicines they need.
For example, Ukrainians who have been forced to leave their homes because of Russia’s military aggression (that is, internally displaced persons) can receive primary health care where they are actually staying, without a declaration with a family doctor or a referral, at any hospital that is able to provide the necessary treatment. Please note that primary care is provided by family doctors, general practitioners and pediatricians.
However, to receive specialized care, a referral is still required.
Who can issue a referral?
Any doctor in the health care system, from family doctors to highly specialized physicians, can issue a referral when they consider it necessary to involve a specialist in another field or to order additional tests, procedures or hospitalization.
How long is a referral valid?
A referral is valid for one year. However, patients should follow the doctor’s advice on when to have the examination or specialist consultation they have been referred for.
What information does a referral contain?
A referral does not name the facility or doctor the patient is being referred to; it contains the service code and information about the facility and doctor who issued it. Patients can choose where to receive the service themselves, at any hospital that has a contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) and can provide the relevant medical services.
Exception: when a patient is transferred from one inpatient unit to another, the facility is specified.
Please note that, to ensure patients’ access to medical services, both electronic and paper referrals are valid during the war.
To find out which facilities provide the consultation or additional diagnostics you need free of charge, call 16-77 (NHSU contact center).