Every second Ukrainian has already chosen a PHC physician

More than 21 million Ukrainians have chosen their PHC physicians – a family doctor, a general practitioner, or a pediatrician – in the first seven months since the launch of "A Doctor for Every Family" campaign.

The most active regions during this period were as follows: Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr and Chernihiv oblasts – more than 60% of the residents of these oblasts have already signed a declaration with the chosen PHC physician. Only three oblasts of Ukraine fell below the threshold of 50% – Luhansk (with 49% of residents having chosen their doctors), Odesa (43%) and Zakarpattia (41%) oblasts.

Every citizen of Ukraine needs to choose a PHC physician, who will be the first point of contact for medical care, whenever the need arises. International practice indicates that the majority of health problems are treated at the primary health care level. A family doctor, general practitioner or pediatrician not only diagnoses and treats the most common diseases and medical conditions, including injuries and poisonings, but also encourages patients to lead healthy lifestyles, refers them to specialists, issues sick leaves and other medical certificates.

The National Health Service of Ukraine pays for the actual services rendered to patients by PHC providers. The NHSU has already contracted 623 PHC providers nationwide, including 40 private clinics and 33 private physicians. In October, the NHSU paid a total of UAH 800 million to these PHC providers for the actual services rendered to patients under a new capitation model.

In the second half of 2019, Ukraine’s government plans to launch the Free Medical Diagnostics Program. With a referral from a PHC physician, patients will be able to undergo free of charge up to 80% of all medical diagnostic tests and procedures, including x-rays, ultrasounds, mammography, echocardiography, and other medical analysis and diagnostic procedures at any NHSU-contracted health facility of their choice.