Free medical care for myocardial infarction is provided in 78 hospitals in the country, under an agreement with the National Health Insurance Fund as part of the “Medical Care for Acute Myocardial Infarction” package. Therefore, regardless of the place of registration or status, the patient can count on all necessary diagnostic examinations and treatment.
Myocardial infarction is a life-threatening pathological condition that develops due to acute disruption of coronary circulation.
Among the factors that increase the risk of developing myocardial infarction are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, a tendency to thrombosis, high blood cholesterol levels, atherosclerosis, obesity, hypertension, bad habits, and a sedentary lifestyle.
How to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack:
– sharp pain, burning in the chest;
– irregular heartbeat;
– feeling of squeezing behind the sternum;
– pain spreading to the lower jaw, neck, shoulders, arms;
– shortness of breath;
– nausea;
– dizziness;
– severe weakness;
– cold sweat.
A person with a suspected heart attack needs urgent medical attention. Delaying medical attention causes irreversible changes in the heart muscle and can lead to cardiac arrest.
If a person has signs of a heart attack, the first thing to do is call 103, describing the symptoms to the operator. In this case, the emergency medical team will immediately deliver the victim with a suspected heart attack to the nearest medical facility that has an agreement with the National Health Service for the treatment of heart attacks. We emphasize that when providing emergency medical care, the place of registration and residence do not matter. A patient with a suspected heart attack receives all the necessary emergency diagnostics free of charge, and if the diagnosis is confirmed, a full range of medical care. Timely medical care and adherence to the route of a patient with a heart attack increase the chances of a full recovery.
Medical care for a heart attack is free under the Medical Guarantees Program. Therefore, demanding an electronic referral, payment for charitable contributions, or separate examinations from an internally displaced person who has been admitted to a hospital in an emergency is unlawful.
Free services for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction that the patient receives:
– Initial examination, assessment of general condition and vital functions.
– Emergency determination of basic biochemical parameters and specific cardiological blood tests to confirm myocardial damage, differential diagnosis and dynamic monitoring.
– Conducting laboratory tests around the clock in the institution, including: clinical blood test; biochemical blood test; coagulation hemostasis; glucose; quantitative determination of myocardial damage markers, etc.
– Conducting instrumental examinations around the clock, including: angiographic examination of coronary vessels; electrocardiography; echocardiography; chest X-ray, etc.
– Performing emergency catheterizations of the coronary arteries of the heart and restoring the maximum possible blood flow.
– Pain relief and anesthesia support at all stages of diagnosis and treatment.
– Urgent consultations by doctors of other specialties.
– Provision of medicines, in particular, X-ray contrast agents and medical devices for coronary angiography, angioplasty and stenting, as well as medicines specified in the National List of Essential Medicines, necessary medical devices and consumables.
– Providing rehabilitation services in the acute rehabilitation period.
– Nutrition in a hospital setting.
More about the list of services - on the website of the National Health Service of Ukraine nszu.gov.ua, in the section For citizens / Free services in the Medical Guarantees Program 2024 / Priority inpatient services. Or by by reference.
How to make sure that the patient was taken to a hospital where myocardial infarction is being treated:
– Call the NHSU contact center 16-77, where they will tell you which medical institutions that have a contract with the NHSU for heart attack treatment are nearby.
– On the website of the National Health Insurance Fund of Ukraine, using the analytical panel/dashboard “Concluded contracts for medical care of the population under the medical guarantees program”. Select the region, settlement and “Service group” in the filter field on the left – 6 “Medical care for acute myocardial infarction”. The map will show the nearest hospitals that diagnose and treat heart attacks. You can go to the dashboard by by reference.
How to complain about fraudulent extortion
If an internally displaced person was offered to purchase medicine at their own expense, pay for services covered by the Medical Guarantees Program, or make a charitable contribution, this is a violation of the patient's rights and the terms of the NHSU contract with the medical institution. In such a case, the patient or accompanying person must file an appeal regarding the violation:
– by calling the National Health Service Contact Center at 16-77
– fill out an electronic form on the NSZU website: select the “For Citizens” section in the menu at the top, then “Feedback. Here you can leave your questions, comments, suggestions, statements and complaints.” Or go to by reference.
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 at the link.