---
title: "Free Anesthesia and Sedation: Ministry of Health of Ukraine Clarifies When Patients Should Not Pay for Anesthesiologist's Work"
description: "The Ministry of Health of Ukraine confirmed that anesthesia and sedation under the Medical Guarantees Program are provided free of charge. If payment is demanded, the patient has the right to file a complaint with the NHSU at 16-77."
date: 2026-11-08T09:59:37.865Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/free-anesthesia-sedation-medical-guarantees-program-ukraine
tags: [ukraine, healthcare, anesthesia, sedation, medical-guarantees, nszu, free-medical-services]
author: "Inna Kinsheva"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Free Anesthesia and Sedation: Ministry of Health of Ukraine Clarifies When Patients Should Not Pay for Anesthesiologist's Work

![Man in a hospital corridor talking on the phone with a doctor standing in the background](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/08/besplatnaya-anesteziya-i-sedatsiya-po-programme-meditsinskikh-garantiy/besplatnaya-anesteziya-i-sedatsiya-po-programme-meditsinskikh-garantiy-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Anesthesia and sedation under the Medical Guarantees Program are provided free of charge, with costs covered by the state
- Services are available at medical facilities with an NHSU contract; necessity and method are determined by the doctor
- If payment is demanded, the patient can file a complaint with the NHSU, indicating the facility name and service
- In 2025, following complaints, hospitals returned 630 thousand hryvnias to patients for services that should have been free

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.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Анестезия и седация бесплатны: куда обращаться, если в больнице требуют деньги](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/anesteziya-ta-sedatsiya-bezoplatni-kudi-zvertatisya-1793991339.html) - Primary source. Clarification from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine regarding the free provision of anesthesia and sedation under the Medical Guarantees Program, the procedure for filing complaints with the NHSU, data on the return of 630 thousand UAH in 2025.

## FAQ

### In what cases are anesthesia and sedation provided free of charge?

They are provided free of charge during surgeries, certain examinations, and therapeutic procedures included in the Medical Guarantees Program packages, based on medical indications and in medical facilities with an NHSU contract.

### What to do if the hospital demands payment for anesthesia?

You must file a complaint with the NHSU, indicating the name of the medical institution, the circumstances of care, and the service for which money was demanded. The NHSU hotline is 16-77.

### Can I get back money already paid for anesthesia or sedation?

Yes. Patients can get back funds paid for services that were supposed to be provided free of charge under the Medical Guarantees Program. In 2025, following complaints, hospitals returned 630 thousand hryvnias to patients.

### Who decides whether a patient needs anesthesia or sedation?

The need for application and the specific method is determined by the attending physician, taking into account the type of procedure, the patient's condition, and medical indications.