In Ukraine, a medical guarantee program is in effect, under which Ukrainians can receive a full range of free medical services. This program also covers pregnancy care and childbirth. UNN has gathered complete information on what patients receive under the medical guarantee program.
Free medical services during pregnancy
Even before childbirth, under the Medical Guarantee Program, a pregnant woman is entitled to medical support. A woman can receive this support at a communal or private facility that has a contract with the NHSU under the "Outpatient Pregnancy Care" package.
This package includes dynamic monitoring of the pregnancy. This refers to monitoring the health status of the pregnant woman, the completeness of examinations, consultations, the implementation of therapeutic and preventive measures, and the development and implementation of an individual pregnancy management plan.
A pregnant woman can be observed by an obstetrician-gynecologist free of charge - both by self-referral without a referral and by referral from a doctor.
A woman is also entitled to a whole range of laboratory tests and instrumental examinations.
Laboratory tests, in particular, cover:
- complete blood count with determination of platelet count and hematocrit (at least twice, as indicated);
- blood test for the presence of antibodies in case of Rh-negative blood type in the pregnant woman (at least twice, as indicated);
- biochemical blood analysis;
- glucose in whole blood or blood serum;
- urinalysis with mandatory determination of protein (at registration and at each visit);
- thyroid function tests;
- testing for infections and viruses in accordance with industry standards;
- determination of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), total antibodies to hepatitis C virus;
- HIV testing;
- serological test for syphilis;
- screening for perinatal infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus infection, herpes, etc.).
And some other tests, such as bacterial urine culture, cytological examinations, and Rh factor determination. The full list of studies can be found on the NHSU website.
Instrumental studies at the pregnancy management stage include ultrasound, cervicometry, colposcopy, cardiotocography, and electrocardiography.
The medical guarantee package also includes prenatal screening to calculate a woman's individual risk for common chromosomal pathologies using specialized computer programs.
If necessary, for example, in case of complications, the patient can count on the involvement of specialists of various profiles as indicated.
The program also provides for full information about the course of pregnancy, prevention, and avoidance of possible complications.
Free childbirth: how much does it cost and is partner birth included?
The National Health Service has allocated a certain amount — it does not reach 20 thousand hryvnias for a normal delivery, by any means — cesarean section or natural
According to him, this amount includes both partner birth and anesthesia.
Thus, the list of free services during and after childbirth includes:
- medical assistance with an on-call obstetric team;
- anesthesia (pain relief), partner birth, all necessary examinations, and meals in hospital conditions;
- medicines, medical devices and anesthesia, necessary laboratory tests, as well as postpartum monitoring of the mother and newborn.
To be more specific, a patient covered by medical guarantees can count on the management of vaginal delivery (even complicated ones) or a cesarean section for medical reasons (both planned and emergency). Also, non-pharmacological or pharmacological pain relief, such as epidural or spinal analgesia.
Childbirth management also includes a full range of laboratory tests (complete blood count, determination of Rh factor and blood group, urinalysis, magnesium, lactate, etc.) and instrumental examinations (X-ray, ultrasound, electrocardiography, etc.). In addition, the package includes the collection of a umbilical cord blood sample to determine Rh-conflict between mother and child).
All infants are guaranteed neonatal screening — a comprehensive examination conducted to detect hereditary and congenital pathologies. The examination covers 21 rare diseases, is free of charge, and is conducted directly at the maternity hospital that has a contract with the NHSU.
At the same time, obstetric and gynecological hospitals can officially provide paid services for patients who are not covered by the medical guarantee program or who want to receive an additional range of services that the facility can provide. For example, the capital's Perinatal Center provides services for individual support of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as separate accommodation in an improved ward.
But let me emphasize once again: normal childbirth - even with anesthesia or, if you wish, with the presence of a husband - does not require additional payment
In total, as of today, according to the NHSU, 237 hospitals and maternity wards across Ukraine can provide services under the "Medical Assistance during Childbirth" program.