Half of Ukrainians refusing treatment because of poverty

The Ministry of health highlight the need for serious reform in medicine.

Every second patient in Ukraine refuses treatment or delaying it because of lack of funds, according to a study of charity in the framework of USAID project “(Imp)paid medicine”.

Over project implementation during the year worked for the U.S. Agency for international development (USAID) and the charitable Foundation “Patients of Ukraine”, writes the BBC.

The study also showed that almost 100% of Ukrainians paid for the drugs being treated on an outpatient basis, the same number of respondents paid money, being treated in hospital. The Ministry of health insist that it is unacceptable, because the Constitution protects the right to health, and also stress the need for serious reform in medicine.

“At 18 you are left alone with their problems”, – said the Ukrainian air force 21-year-old Lesya Geychenko. The girl suffers from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. According to her, if programs for children in Ukraine still somehow work, the adults with her diagnosis, the state does not support: “Without treatment to live a normal life is impossible, and my meds cost $ 1000 a month.” “The family had to borrow money, and to sell the property. This is a serious problem,” she adds.

Some parents of children preparing for this in advance.

“Now I know where I’ll be in October 2026. Unfortunately, I’m going to stand under the door to the intensive care unit. Because then my daughter will be 18 and she will be taken to the hospital for adults. And the first monthly bleeding in adult hospital is the intensive care unit,” says Nina Astafurova-Yatsenko, the girl’s mother, who is ill with hemophilia.

According to her, adult patients only 10% provided with medicines by the state. So people share the drugs among themselves, often buying them on the black market: “We go article – smuggling. But I’m not afraid to talk about it because we put in such conditions.”

“When I joined the queue for my medication, I realized that I just can’t see the time,” continues the 41-year-old Ivan Zelensky, whom doctors diagnosed with leukaemia. Learning about how much it costs for treatment, many patients, he says, covers the depression is so strong that they refuse to be treated: “And we will lose them. And it could be real people that worked, raised their children and happy family.” These stories, tell patients in Ukraine thousands.

“This must change, no way to live. I want my daughter to live to a ripe old age,” says Astafurov-Yatsenko.

In the end, half of the respondents do not go to the hospital at all, and almost two-thirds of patients admitted was self-medicating

“Free medical care in Ukraine is a myth. In fact, each patient pays twice – in taxes and during a visit to the doctor,” commented the Executive Director of the Foundation “Patients of Ukraine” Olga Stefanyshyna. One of the main doctors for Ukrainian patients is the Internet Olga Stefanyshyna, the “Patients of Ukraine”

“One of the main doctors for Ukrainian patients is the Internet,” adds Stefanyshyna. People adjust themselves medication lists when you see their high cost, replace a one drug to others, focusing on the information in the network. Half buys drugs whose effectiveness is not proven.

“We want to help patients that they treated, and – very important – that they were not ill and did not need treatment,” says the head of the Ministry of health Suprun. “Why don’t we have medicine, why patients pay out of pocket, why is the government unable to help? Because we ineffectively use our existing tools,” she adds.

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