 Adequate
funding for the Ukrainian state healthcare sector in year 2000 will remain
beyond the means of the government. While the state budget for healthcare
includes UAH 4.2 billion, projected demands on the current healthcare system
are estimated at UAH 9-10 billion. Severe financial problems will continue
to affect the operation of the hospital sector, and 'unofficial' patient
co-payments are widely requested (both by hospitals and doctors.) There
is no national medical insurance program in Ukraine, though its introduction
has been under discussion since 1996. Private medical insurance does exist,
but is not mandatory. End summary. |
The
Government of Ukraine (GOU) has attempted to address the lack of funds in
the healthcare sector, but without any systematic focus. The proposed introduction
of a list of services for which patients would have to pay directly has
been deemed unconstitutional. Mandatory medical insurance for foreigners,
and for train passengers, addresses only a small part of the problem and
raises little funding. The government's basic goal is to assure that 'essential'
healthcare services to selected groups of the population remain free-of-charge.
(These essential services include: emergency services, maternity and children's
healthcare services.) |
The introduction
of national medical insurance has been  under
discussion in Ukraine since 1996. Various draft laws have been prepared
and submitted to the parliament over the years, but were never adopted.
Current weak conditions in the economy makes passing of a national medical
insurance bill unlikely in the near future. |
Private
medical insurance does exist in Ukraine, but is not mandatory. In 1999,
medical insurance made up only 9 percent of the total insurance business
in Ukraine. Large companies, foreign firms and joint ventures (JVs) purchased
private medical insurance policies for their employees.  |
| Ukraine's private clinics accept
privately insured patients. However, they are starting to introduce their
own multi-level systems of payments (ranging from emergency treatment to
full medical coverage.) These clinic programs are alternatives to medical
insurance, and exclude the insurance company as an intermediary in the "client-hospital"
chain. |
Clinics
Addresses in Kyiv...