Ukraine's Ministry of Health has clarified that digital medical services in the electronic health system (e-Health System, or ESOS) are available to every patient, even if they do not have a smartphone or a mobile app. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing an official Ministry of Health post on Facebook. The key requirement for receiving SMS notifications is an up-to-date phone number registered in the system, while full access to e-prescriptions and e-referrals only requires presenting a document that is registered in the e-Health System.
Registration in the e-Health System: who and how to gain access
Registering in the electronic health system does not require a smartphone or even a mobile phone. A healthcare worker can register a patient directly during a doctor's visit or at any healthcare facility. During registration, the patient must choose an authentication method — by phone number or by document. It is through this chosen channel that the system verifies the patient's identity during every interaction. This means that even a person who does not use digital devices gains full access to electronic medical services.
SMS notifications on a regular phone: what arrives and why
Even without a smartphone, a patient can receive SMS messages from the e-Health System on a regular mobile phone. These include notifications about scheduled appointments, issued e-prescriptions, e-referrals, and other events related to their medical record. The main condition is that an up-to-date phone number must be listed in the system. If the number has changed, it must be updated so that important notifications are not missed. The phone number and the authentication method can be checked or changed in the Patient Cabinet. If a person does not use the Patient Cabinet, they can simply contact their family doctor or another healthcare worker, who will help verify the data and update it if necessary.
Authentication by document: full access without a phone
Lacking a phone does not deprive a person of the right to use digital medical services. In this case, the patient chooses authentication by document. During a doctor's visit, it is enough to present a document that has been registered in the e-Health System. SMS messages will not be sent in this case, but the patient can still receive e-prescriptions, e-referrals, and other electronic medical services in full. If needed, the healthcare worker can also issue a paper note with information about the e-prescription or e-referral, making the service accessible even to the most conservative users.
Context: healthcare digitalization and new standards
The Ministry of Health's clarification on the availability of the e-Health System without a smartphone comes amid the active development of the digital infrastructure of Ukrainian healthcare. Recently, Ukraine approved new standards for prescribing antimicrobial drugs — antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitic agents — which are also implemented through electronic services. In parallel, the "Accessible Medicines" program has begun delivering drugs by drone to remote villages and frontline communities, where logistics are complicated and pharmacies are absent. Thus, the state is steadily removing barriers — both technological and geographical — to obtaining medical care.
