Because of Russia’s military aggression, war-related stress and worsening living conditions, many Ukrainians are facing flare-ups of old illnesses and the onset of new ones, and are experiencing negative effects on their mental health, among other problems.
For those who need medication, we would like to remind you that Ukraine has the “Affordable Medicines” program, through which patients can get medicines free of charge or with a small co-payment.
The “Affordable Medicines” program covers medicines for cardiovascular diseases, type 1 (insulin-dependent) and type 2 diabetes, bronchial asthma, mental and behavioral disorders, epilepsy and diabetes insipidus, as well as medicines to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
If a patient needs medicines for cardiovascular disease, bronchial asthma or type 2 diabetes, they should contact:
- their own doctor, with whom they have signed a declaration and are in touch;
- any other family doctor (if you have had to move), general practitioner or pediatrician, even without a declaration. After all, primary care for internally displaced persons (IDPs) is provided in full.
The doctor will examine you, make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment, including medication.
If medicines are needed for mental and behavioral disorders, see a psychiatrist; for epilepsy, see a psychiatrist or a neurologist.
If a patient needs a first insulin treatment regimen, it is prescribed by an endocrinologist, who also makes any changes to the regimen. Once the regimen is approved, a family doctor can also write prescriptions for insulin.
For diabetes insipidus, the first prescription must also be written by an endocrinologist; for repeat prescriptions, you can go to primary care doctors.
Next, the doctor writes the actual prescription for the medicines the patient needs. It can be either an electronic or a paper prescription.
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 get the medicines free of charge.
You can find the nearest pharmacy by calling 16-77 (NHSU contact center).