MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF NAMS INSTITUTIONS READY TO OPERATE UNDER THE MEDICAL GUARANTEES PROGRAM FROM 2027, BUT A NUMBER OF OBSTACLES REMAIN
The National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (NAMS of Ukraine, the Academy) expects that, from next year, 21 of its institutions will be able to fully operate under the medical guarantees program without transitional arrangements. However, a number of shortcomings in the way this process is organised, identified by the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, have yet to be addressed.
This was discussed during a meeting of the Committee on National Health, Medical Care and Health Insurance of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the transition of NAMS of Ukraine institutions to the state guarantees program for medical care for the population and the implementation of the recommendations of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine following the Accounting Chamber's compliance audit of the readiness of NAMS institutions for this transition.
The discussion was attended by Members of Parliament of Ukraine who are members of the Committee, Olha Pishchanska, Chairwoman of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine, Vasyl Lazoryshynets, President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Nataliia Husak, Head of the National Health Service of Ukraine, Lesia Ivanyshchuk, State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, as well as representatives of civil society.
According to Olha Pishchanska, in implementing the recommendations of the Accounting Chamber, the Academy, in particular, required the heads of its institutions to ensure the registration in the electronic healthcare system of all healthcare professionals providing medical services, as well as the entry of all relevant records into the system. However, the deadlines for implementing six of the 14 recommendations of the Accounting Chamber have not been met. In particular:
– no measures have been taken to ensure that the Academy's institutions comply with the requirements of the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) under the general packages of medical services;
– no justification has been provided regarding the high-tech, unique and complex nature of the services provided by the Academy's institutions to determine whether it is appropriate to apply adjustment coefficients to tariffs for medical services;
– the recommendation to organise joint work with the NHSU to take into account the single-specialty nature of the institutions in the specifications for medical service packages related to the provision of specialised medical care has not been implemented.
According to the Accounting Chamber's audit, in 2023–2024 the Academy did not properly organise the process of transitioning to the medical guarantees program as part of the healthcare reform. Its institutions did not meet the NHSU's requirements for concluding contracts for the provision of medical services, and without such contracts they risked receiving reduced funding or no funding at all.
NAMS of Ukraine institutions joined the medical guarantees program at the beginning of 2025 and, during the transitional period, received a special funding package from the state. The transitional period was expected to last one year, until the end of 2025. However, due to the lack of effective management decisions, a significant number of the Academy's healthcare institutions still require state support.
“Although the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine is demonstrating its willingness to make changes to its activities, we are still seeing incomplete implementation of the recommendations of the Accounting Chamber. At the same time, this has a direct impact on the successful implementation of the healthcare reform within NAMS of Ukraine – the full transition of all institutions to working with the NHSU, without additional financial support from the state,” Olha Pishchanska concluded.
For his part, Vasyl Lazoryshynets, President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, noted that five Academy institutions are indeed expected to have a negative outlook by the end of this year and will require additional support.
In turn, Minister of Health Viktor Liashko stressed that the Academy must address the identified problems and recommended that its management present a development strategy for its institutions.
During the discussion, Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chairman of the Committee on National Health, Medical Care and Health Insurance, proposed several ways to address the Academy's pressing problems. The proposed measures included an external independent audit, strengthening control over official payments made by patients, attracting international grants and investment, as well as centralising procurement through Medical Procurement of Ukraine.
Following the discussion, the information provided was taken into consideration. No decision was adopted on the matter.
Additional information Report on the results of the compliance audit on the topic “How the institutions of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine are prepared for the transition to the program of state guarantees of medical care for the population”.
Press release: NAMS institutions entered the medical guarantees program without proper preparation. What consequences did the audit of the Accounting Chamber reveal?
