War veterans are eligible get medicines from the state free of charge or with a minimal co-payment. These are drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases, oncology, mental disorders, diseases of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, as well as other serious pathologies.
Provision of medicines and medical products is guaranteed during inpatient or outpatient treatment in institutions that have a contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSHU).
For the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, veterans can use the “Affordable Medicines” program administered by the National Health Service. The program includes drugs for strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, glaucoma, migraines, inflammatory, autoimmune, metabolic and a number of other diseases. Medicines can be obtained at a pharmacy with an electronic prescription issued by a doctor.
During hospital treatment, patients are guaranteed to be provided with drugs from the National List of Essential Medicines, which is an approved list that includes medicines recommended by the WHO and recognized as effective, safe and therapeutically sound. Health care institutions purchase these drugs with funds from the state or local budgets. This list includes drugs for the treatment of oncology, tuberculosis, hepatitis, mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and others.
In addition, the state centrally procures medicines and medical products through the Ministry of Health and SE “Medical Procurement of Ukraine”. These drugs are also free for patients. These are means for the treatment of oncology, cardiovascular diseases, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and other pathologies. The list of medical products includes both basic (bandages, catheters) and complex ones, including artificial valves and surgical instruments.
Many regions also have local social programs for free drug provision, usually covering seriously ill patients and people with rare diseases. Information about available programs in your area can be obtained from local self-government bodies.
To use the “Affordable Medicines” program, a veteran must have a declaration from a family doctor. During the visit, the doctor will inform you which drugs can be obtained under the program and issue an electronic prescription. An SMS with the prescription number and redemption code will be sent to the mobile phone. It is enough to inform the pharmacy of these data – the pharmacist will offer the available medicines. You can use the prescription for 30 days, and in the case of narcotics – 10 days.
In case of hospitalization, the doctor is obliged to prescribe the necessary medicines. It is appropriate to ask whether these drugs are included in the National List. If not, find out about their analogues, which can be provided at the expense of the state. The doctor should also inform about the possibility of obtaining drugs through local programs. If no such information is provided, contact the relevant local authority Health Department.
