Treatment of diabetes under the medical guarantees program

Under the Medical Guarantee Program in 2023, 186,993 patients received insulin free of charge, and 322,835 patients received blood glucose test strips.

Diabetes is a condition that results in high blood glucose levels. Timely detection and control of diabetes prevent the development of complications and help maintain the quality of life.

The Medical Guarantee Program covers all necessary services for the prevention and treatment of this disease, provided free of charge to the patient. This includes consultations, laboratory and instrumental tests, hospitalizations, etc.

In particular, people with diabetes can receive insulin and medications for type II diabetes free of charge or with a small surcharge. Also, this year, test strips for measuring blood glucose levels were added to the reimbursement program for patients with type I diabetes. The cost of medicines and medical devices is reimbursed by the NHSU directly to pharmacies.

An important component of therapy for patients with diabetes is regular medication and uninterrupted access to it. Here's how Ukrainians with diabetes can get the medicines they need.

Medicines for patients with diabetes

For patients with diabetes who take tablet therapy, the Affordable Medicines reimbursement program includes 53 brand names of medicines for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, 23 of which are free of charge and 30 with a co-payment.

You can get a prescription for these medicines from your family doctor.

The reimbursement program also includes 4 trade names of desmopressin, which is prescribed for diabetes insipidus. All medications for the treatment of diabetes mellitus can be obtained free of charge.

Medications for diabetes insipidus are prescribed by an endocrinologist. The doctor will create a treatment plan with information about the dosage of the drug and enter it into the Electronic Healthcare System. The endocrinologist will also write the first electronic prescription for "Available Medicines". Subsequent prescriptions based on the treatment plan will be issued by a family doctor.

Insulin

Ukrainians with diabetes can receive insulin free of charge or with a co-payment. Almost 200 thousand people with insulin-dependent diabetes have taken advantage of this opportunity.

For patients with diabetes who need insulin therapy, 45 trade names of insulin products are included in the List of Medicines Subject to Reimbursement.

Currently, more than 12 thousand pharmacies in Ukraine have a contract with the NHSU. Since the beginning of 2023, the NHSU has reimbursed pharmacies UAH 1.554 billion for insulin dispensed since the beginning of the year.

To receive insulin under the reimbursement program, you need to visit an endocrinologist.

The doctor will draw up an individual treatment plan and enter it into the Electronic Healthcare System. In the treatment plan, the endocrinologist indicates the type of insulin, dosage, etc. Based on this information, an electronic prescription is generated.

The second and subsequent prescriptions can be issued by a family doctor based on the treatment plan in the EHR.

Test strips

In 2023, the NHSU will, for the first time, reimburse patients with type 1 diabetes for the cost of blood glucose test strips. Thus, medical care is comprehensive and free of charge for the patient.

For patients with type 1 diabetes, the reimbursement program includes 23 names of glucose test strips for individual glucose meters.

You can get the necessary test strips at any pharmacy that has an agreement with the NHSU. There are more than 11 thousand such pharmacies in Ukraine. Since the beginning of 2023, the NHSU has reimbursed pharmacies UAH 200,715 thousand for the test strips sold.

It is important to note that only those test strips that correspond to glucose meters of certain models and manufacturers (i.e. included in the list of medical devices subject to reimbursement) can be obtained by prescription.

You can find out the contacts of a pharmacy that sells medicines, insulin and test strips under a contract with the NHSU by calling 16-77 or by finding the nearest pharmacy on the online map on the NHSU website: Electronic map of ePrescription drug outlets