According to the World Health Organization, every 10 children in the world are born prematurely every year.
In Ukraine, parents of such babies can count on free medical care under the Medical Guarantees Program under the package “Medical Care for Newborns in Difficult Neonatal Cases.” Thus, in the Lviv region, 4 medical institutions located in Lviv are contracted with the National Health Service under this package. Since the beginning of 2024, almost 900 preterm infants have received medical care there.
“The NHSU pays UAH 8,735 for a treated case. About 20 adjustment coefficients are applied to the rate, depending on the complexity of the case – the child’s weight, the need for surgery, the period of stay on a ventilator, etc. The maximum amount that a medical institution can receive is about UAH 551 thousand for the treatment of an infant weighing less than 750 grams when hospitalized with the need for significant general interventions,” says Tetiana Kudyk, Director of the Western Interregional Department of the NHSU.
What services are covered by this package:
examination and consultations of necessary doctors;
intensive care for newborns;
round-the-clock medical and nursing care;
Necessary laboratory and instrumental tests;
extended screening for congenital diseases;
timely pain relief;
oxygen support;
therapeutic hypothermia;
vaccination according to the vaccination schedule;
psychological assistance to parents;
support for breastfeeding;
Provision of special nutrition for the child;
provision of medicines, medical devices and consumables, etc.
You can find the nearest facility contracted under the neonatal care package for preterm infants on the NHSU dashboard on the map of contracted service locations with details by service group – select the region (Lviv) and service group (“8 Medical care for newborns in complex neonatal cases”).
More information about free medical services can be found in the e-guide “Guide to the Medical Guarantee Program for Patients 2024”. You can download the guide here: https://cutt.ly/Nw5buw0b.