Ukraine has introduced new rules for patient registration with family doctors and the issuance of electronic prescriptions [1].
These changes aim to increase the efficiency of medical assistance and prevent abuses within the referral system. By enforcing a strict principle of personal responsibility for the use of medical systems, the Ministry of Health seeks to ensure that medications are distributed fairly and legally [1], [2].
Under the new regulations, which took effect May 20, 2024 [1], patients can only obtain an electronic prescription after registering with their family doctor. This move eliminates previous loopholes in the system. Irina Markevych said that telephone calls to request referrals will no longer work [1].
This system integrates with the "Accessible Medicines" program, which allows citizens to obtain necessary medications. Olena Kovalchuk said the program enables Ukrainians to receive these drugs for free, or with a small co-payment, via an electronic prescription [2].
To receive a prescription, a patient must first establish a formal relationship with a primary care provider. This registration ensures that the doctor can monitor the patient's health history and justify the medical necessity of the prescribed drug. The electronic nature of the prescription reduces the risk of fraud and allows the government to track the distribution of subsidized medicine in real time [1], [2].
Healthcare providers across the country are now required to adhere to these registration protocols. The transition is intended to streamline the patient experience while tightening oversight on how state-funded medications are accessed [1].
“Patients can only obtain an electronic prescription after registering with their family doctor.”
The shift toward mandatory registration and electronic prescriptions represents a move toward a more digitized, accountable healthcare infrastructure. By removing the ability to obtain referrals via telephone and requiring a formal doctor-patient link, Ukraine is attempting to reduce systemic waste and ensure that subsidized medications reach the patients who clinically require them.
