Ukrainian Healthcare System Undergoes Reforms: Patients Choose Their Family Doctor

Ukrainians will soon be seeing reforms in their state insurance. Changes such as choosing their own doctor will be coming into effect on April 2nd. One clinic in Kyiv is already prepared for the reforms.

Medical workers are also preparing for the new standards. The deadline for all reforms to be implemented in July of this year. That is when the new system should be fully functional. At the moment, its still in the stages of testing.

Another facet of the medical reforms is the signing of a declaration or an agreement between a family doctor and patient. The declaration will include certain responsibilities for various medical professionals.
Therapists, pediatricians, and family doctors will monitor the health of their patients, as well as diagnose and treat for the most common diseases. They will also monitor the health status of patients with chronic diseases. If necessary, doctors will make home visits. Reforms have also placed a patient cap of 1800 for one family doctor.

Ukrainians will also stop paying for medical procedures once the reforms are fully implemented.

The next stage of reform is the creation of contracts between medical institutions and the National Health Service, says the head of the newly created department. It is this service that will transfer money to medical institutions for each patient.

The list of therapists, pediatricians, and family doctors can be seen on a new website. This National Electronic System was launched in June last year. Since the introduction of online records, more than a million Ukrainians have signed up for an appointment with a doctor.