In 2025, UAH 6.6 billion will be allocated for the Affordable Medicines program. The program will be expanded to include more than 30 new medicines, including those for glaucoma, metabolic diseases, pain, and pediatric medicines. By August 2025, all pharmacies should join this initiative. The head of the National Health Service of Ukraine, Natalia Husak, said this during a telethon, UNN reports.
Details
Starting January 1, 2025, the Affordable Medicines program will be significantly expanded. It will be replenished with new medicines for the treatment of glaucoma, metabolic and inflammatory diseases, as well as medicines for pain relief and palliative care. Particular attention is paid to medicines for children - drops, ointments and antibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases.
"This is an unprecedented step by the government, as from January 1, we will add more than 30 active ingredients to the program, which will double the number of available drugs, which is currently about 600," Gusak said.
The program is not focused on patient categories, but on diagnoses. Therefore, access to medicines will be guaranteed to all Ukrainians, regardless of social status or place of residence. This is especially true for children, who will have access to certain medicines. To receive medicines, it is enough to have a prescription from a family doctor or attending physician.
Today, almost 5 million Ukrainians use the program.
To implement the program in 2025, the State Budget of Ukraine has allocated UAH 6.6 billion.
"This year we used UAH 5 billion," Gusak said.
Recall
The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolutionthat allows using the "Affordable Medicines" program in every pharmacy in Ukraine.