New services in the primary healthcare package from 2025: what has changed
Kyiv • UNN
The NHSU will integrate mental health and tuberculosis treatment services into the primary health care package in 2025. All primary healthcare facilities will provide free psychological assistance, and tuberculosis treatment will be subject to additional conditions.
In 2025, the package of medical services "Primary Health Care" will include services for the support and treatment of mental disorders, as well as an additional service for the support and treatment of adults and children with tuberculosis. This was reported to UNN journalist by the National Health Service of Ukraine.
"In 2025, the Primary Healthcare package will integrate services for the support and treatment of mental disorders, which will be mandatory. It also includes an additional service for the support and treatment of adults and children with tuberculosis," the NHSU said.
The NHSU emphasizes that the service "Support and treatment of adults and children with tuberculosis at the primary level of medical care" is additional and not mandatory for all primary care providers. Only institutions that meet the additional procurement conditions, in particular, regarding staff training, can submit proposals for this service. A general practitioner must have completed a relevant course or have a valid certificate of a physiotherapist.
Earlier, Svitlana Dudnyk, Director of the NHSU Department of Universal Health Coverage Strategy, said that in 2025, two packages of the Medical Guarantee Program, namely mental health care and primary care and treatment of tuberculosis patients, would be integrated into the Primary Health Care package.
"I can announce that in 2025, two packages of the Medical Guarantee Program will be integrated into the Primary Healthcare package, namely, mental healthcare at the primary level and monitoring and treatment of tuberculosis patients at the primary level. We also understand that at the moment we need effective motivational incentives, but they should be based on really good performance of the primary healthcare system," Dudnyk said.
In December, the Ministry of Health reported that starting in 2025, mental health support services will become available to all citizens in Ukraine on the basis of primary health care (PHC).
The National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) is introducing a new approach: mental health care is being integrated into the basic package of medical services provided by family doctors, general practitioners, and pediatricians. This means that from January 1, 2025, free mental health services will be provided by all primary healthcare facilities (regardless of ownership) contracted by the NHSU to provide primary healthcare. Medical institutions do not need to contract for a separate package to provide mental health services. Instead, according to the updated requirements, all family doctors, general practitioners, pediatricians, and nurses working in a primary healthcare facility contracted by the NHSU must have certificates of completion of the WHO mhGAP program, which provides basic knowledge of mental health care.
The main benefits of the changes:
- Accessibility: everyone can go to their family doctor, therapist or pediatrician with mental health problems.
- Simplicity: no need to look for specialized institutions or narrowly specialized specialists. - Cost-effectiveness: services are included in the medical guarantee program and are free of charge for the patient. - Early detection: doctors will be able to diagnose and treat disorders in time, preventing their complications.
HOW TO GET MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES?
If you or your loved ones need help, please contact your family doctor, general practitioner or pediatrician. Mental health support services are free of charge in institutions contracted with the NHSU and will be included in the basic package from 2025. You can find a primary healthcare facility on the official NHSU website.
The Ministry of Health reminded that in the fall of 2022, a new package "Support and treatment of adults and children with mental disorders at the primary level of medical care" was added to the medical guarantees program. This was done in order to ensure the availability and quality of psychosocial assistance for all citizens in a full-scale war. After all, it is easier to share problems about your psycho-emotional state with a family doctor than to look for a narrow specialist or a specialized hospital. In 2024, about 500,000 patients received care under this package. At the same time, in 2023, about 135,000 patients sought mental health services at primary care facilities. This is an increase of over 350%.
The Ministry of Health notes that even after training, primary care doctors do not become psychologists, psychiatrists, or psychotherapists. Therefore, when a person needs more professional help, they refer the patient to a narrowly specialized specialist. Currently, active work is underway to develop a specialized mental health care system. In particular, we are talking about forming a network of mental health centers in hospitals of a capable network.
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