The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved amendments to the implementation of the Medical Guarantees Programme to strengthen support for frontline communities. From now on, the reduction coefficients that were applied in rear areas during peacetime will no longer apply to primary healthcare facilities in areas of active or potential hostilities.

The Ministry of Health claims that this decision will ensure stable funding for primary care facilities operating amid population evacuation, constant shelling and damaged infrastructure.

‘It is critically important to ensure access to medical services in frontline communities. Despite all the risks and challenges, we must guarantee medical assistance to people. <...> This means providing stable funding for frontline medical facilities, supporting doctors who continue to work in extremely difficult conditions and reassuring people that they will not be left without help,’ emphasised Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine.

Comprehensive government support for communities (first package)

• for young doctors from 2025 – a one-time allowance of UAH 200,000 per contract in rural areas or frontline territories (for 3 years);
• communities will be able to provide medical staff with official housing at the expense of the state budget.

Examples of restoration in the Kherson region

During their visit to the Kherson region, Yuliia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister, and Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health, inspected the work of medical facilities in frontline communities and the progress of reconstruction:

• Vysokopillia – preparations for a large-scale reconstruction of a clinic with expanded medical services (the “Clinic+” project), installation of a solar power plant;
• Davydiv Brid – completion of the construction of a new outpatient clinic with an area of over 500 square meters with modern equipment (the ‘Acting for Health’ project);
• Posad-Pokrovske – renovation of the outpatient clinic, installation of an emergency room, a psycho-emotional relief room, and energy efficiency measures.

‘The development of medical infrastructure is one of the priorities enshrined in the recently presented draft Government Action Programme. <…> Currently, more than 2,400 facilities in 794 medical institutions have been damaged or destroyed. Some of these have already been fully or partially restored, and we are continuing this work. At the same time, 160 restoration projects worth approximately UAH 20 billion are being implemented. The aim is to create modern, comfortable and safe conditions for patients and medical professionals throughout the country,’ said Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine.