On 13 October, the European Union Delegation to Ukraine made a statement in support of the healthcare reform.

In particular, the statement reads: “Next week, the Verkhovna Rada will consider two draft laws on healthcare reform (#6327, #6604). The adoption of these laws is essential. It will allow to kick-start changes in the system, making proper healthcare accessible to all citizens, while increasing transparency and efficiency.”

Reforms have been postponed for too long already and it is absolutely crucial to now tackle the obsolete and inefficient healthcare system inherited from the Soviet past that fails to deliver satisfactory services and is plagued by corruption and inefficiencies.

Ukraine's health outcomes, such as life expectancy, remain among the worst in Europe, while at the same time spending is comparably high. The most vulnerable are particularly affected by the current situation. The reforms envisaged by the Government would refocus financial support to the delivery of services instead of funding an over-proportional and partially obsolete infrastructure.

“Many European countries have gone through a similar process in the past, thus liberating resources to deliver better healthcare to the population at large,” stresses the EU Delegation.

Addressing the needs of the entire population would send a strong signal to all citizens and also demonstrate the country’s commitment to European standards.

“In this context, we welcome the efforts of the Ukrainian government to make the modernization of Ukraine’s health system one of its key priorities. We call on all MPs to vote in favour of these two crucial bills, in the form proposed by the government, during next week's plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada. Reforms should not be delayed any further,” the statement emphasizes.