The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has clarified the procedure for providing anesthesia and sedation under the Medical Guarantees Program. According to the explanation provided to RBC-Ukraine, these services are free of charge for the patient: their cost is fully covered by the state. You can receive free anesthesia or sedation at medical institutions that have concluded a corresponding agreement with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU).
What the Program Specifically Covers
The Medical Guarantees Program provides anesthesia, sedation, or anesthesiological support during surgeries, certain examinations, and therapeutic procedures. Depending on the specific service package, requirements may include various terms: local or general anesthesia, sedation, anesthesiological provision, or support. The Ministry of Health emphasizes that if there is a medical indication and the service is included in the relevant package, the patient is not obliged to pay either for the procedure itself or for the work of the anesthesiologist.
How Necessity and Method Are Determined
Anesthesia provides pain relief during medical interventions, while sedation aims to reduce patient anxiety and discomfort. The decision on the need for a particular method, as well as the choice of the specific type of anesthesia or sedation, is made by the attending physician taking into account the type of procedure, the general condition of the person, and medical indications. Based on medical indications during certain endoscopic examinations, biological material may also be taken for histological or cytological examination, and in some cases, necessary therapeutic interventions may be performed.
What to Do If the Hospital Demands Payment
If a medical institution demands payment for anesthesia, sedation, or the work of an anesthesiologist that are included in the relevant package of the Medical Guarantees Program, the patient has the right to file a complaint with the NHSU. The appeal must indicate the name of the medical institution, the circumstances of care provision, and the specific service for which money was requested. The NHSU hotline for appeals is 16-77.
Context: Other Free Services of the Program
Anesthesia and sedation are just one component of a wide range of free services. Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that under the Medical Guarantees Program, Ukrainians can receive free inpatient treatment without surgery: the state covers necessary tests, examinations, medicines, round-the-clock medical monitoring, pain relief, rehabilitation, and meals in the hospital. If payment is demanded for any of these services, the patient can also contact the NHSU.
Possibility of Refunding Already Paid Funds
Patients who have already paid for medical services that were supposed to be provided free of charge under the Medical Guarantees Program can get their money back. The NHSU processes every complaint, and following appeals in 2025, hospitals returned 630 thousand hryvnias to patients. This confirms that the refund mechanism is functioning and serves as a working tool for protecting patients' rights.
