Taking care of your health is important for everyone, everywhere, regardless of where you live: permanent or temporary. This is especially important for patients with internally displaced person status who have chronic diseases or conditions and require regular medication.
Internally displaced persons can receive medicines free of charge or with a partial co-payment, using the "Affordable Medicines" reimbursement program, which is part of the Medical Guarantees Program.
Reimbursement is a full or partial reimbursement to pharmacies of the cost of medicines or medical devices that were dispensed to a patient based on an e-prescription, at the expense of the Medical Guarantees Program. The mechanism for reimbursement of the cost of medicines applies to the most common chronic diseases. At the same time, these diseases are effectively treated on an outpatient basis.
What medicines can be obtained free of charge or with a partial co-payment?
The reimbursement program includes medicines with proven effectiveness. Today, "Affordable Medicines" covers over 500 trade names in the following areas:
• for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (in particular, prevention of strokes and heart attacks);
• treatment of diabetes mellitus and non-diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes;
• insulin preparations;
• medical devices for determining blood glucose levels (test strips);
• against chronic diseases of the lower respiratory tract (asthma);
• against behavioral and mental disorders, epilepsy;
• for the treatment of Parkinson's disease;
• immunosuppressive drugs for the treatment of individuals in the post-transplantation period;
• opioid analgesics (painkillers for palliative cancer patients
You can find the entire list of drugs included in the reimbursement program in the Register of Medicines and Medical Devices. here.
To obtain medicines under the reimbursement program, you need an electronic prescription. We will explain how and from whom to obtain one below.
1. See a doctor
Make an appointment with your primary care physician – a family doctor, internist, or pediatrician. Based on your health assessment and medical indications, your doctor will refer you to a specialist and/or issue an e-prescription.
Depending on the type of disease, the patient's route will vary:
• for cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, bronchial asthma – you should consult a family doctor, therapist or pediatrician;
• to receive insulin or treat diabetes insipidus – to an endocrinologist;
• for the treatment of mental and behavioral disorders – to a psychiatrist;
• for the treatment of epilepsy – to a psychiatrist or neurologist;
• for Parkinson's disease – to a neurologist;
• immunosuppressive drugs for the treatment of individuals in the post-transplant period – transplant coordinator;
• to obtain opioid analgesics – to your family doctor or primary care physician.
2. Get an e-prescription
At the appointment, the specialist doctor will create a treatment plan in the electronic health system and write the first e-prescription. The patient will receive an SMS with a 16-digit code, which will be sent to the patient's phone from the electronic health system. If the phone is not available, the doctor can print out an information certificate with the code. Please note: based on the created treatment plan, the following e-prescriptions can be written by a primary care doctor: a family doctor, a therapist or a pediatrician. Regarding immunosuppressive drugs, the prescription is always created only by the transplant coordinator.
The e-prescription is valid for 30 days. To get the medicine again, you will need to contact the doctor again: in person or by phone.
3. Get the medicine at the nearest pharmacy that operates under the reimbursement program
Visit a pharmacy that has a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund, give the employee the 16-digit prescription code and receive the medicine free of charge or with a partial co-payment.
How do I find a pharmacy that participates in the reimbursement program?
• such pharmacies or pharmacy points can be identified visually by the sticker on the door: "Here is "Affordable Medicines".
• call the NHSU contact center at 16-77. The operator will tell you where the nearest pharmacy that has a contract with the NHSU dispenses the medicine in the required dosage.
• find the nearest pharmacy with an agreement with the National Health Insurance Fund through the dashboard on the National Health Insurance Fund website «Electronic map of places of dispensing medicines by e-Prescription». In the menu on the left, select your locality, and in the «e-Prescription Program» filter, select the desired reimbursement program direction. The dashboard will show pharmacies that match your request, with addresses and phone numbers. We recommend that you call the pharmacy in advance and check whether the required medicine is in stock. You can go to the dashboard via link.
• use the opportunity to order "Affordable Medicines" through Ukrposhta. To do this, call the Ukrposhta contact center at 0 800 300 545 and, following the prompts in the voice menu, contact a specialist. However, narcotic drugs and insulin are not subject to order and delivery. Instructions on how to order medicines through Ukrposhta here.
• find a pharmacy via the chatbot "Ask Hryts"«. Follow the chatbot's instructions and it will tell you where the nearest pharmacy is.
The Medical Guarantees Program provides all Ukrainians with the same free list and access to medical services, regardless of their status as an internally displaced person. More information about the free medical services that can be obtained under the Medical Guarantees Program can be found in the electronic manual "Guide to the Medical Guarantees Program for Patients 2024". You can download the manual by link.