First: you can receive all registered antiepileptic medications for free in Ukraine. This includes both original and generic forms, regardless of whether the child is officially recognized as disabled or not. The key requirement is that the medications are registered. You can check the registration status of medications in Ukraine here.
First: you can obtain all registered antiepileptic drugs for free in Ukraine, whether they are in their original or generic forms. It doesn't matter if the child has a recognized disability or not. The crucial factor is that the drugs are registered. You can check the registration status of drugs in Ukraine here.
For example, let's check if Depakine and Sabril are on the list of drugs.
We can see that Depakine has many options (Image 1), while Sabril has fewer (Image 2). This indicates that it will be easier to obtain Depakine than Sabril, but both drugs should be funded by the state.
Second: you can receive medications for free, regardless of whether funding has been allocated or not. The funding issue does not affect patients! In the absence of funding, the medical institution or clinic provides a guarantee letter to the pharmacy that has a contract with the clinic, committing to pay for the goods once budgetary funds arrive, which are given to the patient immediately upon presentation of the prescription or after ordering. You can find the nearest pharmacy participating in this program here.
This procedure is called reimbursement, which means the full or partial compensation by the state to the pharmacy for the drugs provided to the patient.
Third: there are two ways to obtain drugs depending on the required medication.
Through the "Accessible Medications" program. Here is the full algorithm. In short, a pediatrician provides an electronic referral, which you can use at a pharmacy within a month. This can be done for free or with a small additional cost at a pharmacy that supports the program. You can check if the required medication is available in the updated list.
By decree 1303. This process is a bit more complicated, but there are no restrictions on the list of drugs; it can be any registered medication in any available form. It should be prescribed by a doctor (neurologist or psychiatrist) in the child's medical record at the clinic where the child is registered. You then take the medical record to the pediatrician, who refers it to the local medical advisory commission (LMAC) for the issuance of a free paper prescription, which you can exchange for medications at a pharmacy affiliated with the clinic. This program is funded by the local budget. Sometimes, you may need to write a request for medication in the Individual Development Plan (IDP) of the child, which is issued by a pediatrician and specifies all the child's needs, including medication, as "non-replaceable."
If the child has a disability, it's a good idea to include the need for medication in the IDP as "non-replaceable."
What to do if you've done everything but still can't get the medications:
1. Document all refusals. Request them in written form.
2. Write a complaint to the head doctor of the medical institution. You can do this in person, online, or by sending a physical letter. They are required to respond within a month. You can learn more about patient rights and what complaints look like here.
3. If that doesn't help, contact the local Ministry of Health department. This can be done in person or by sending a letter, either electronically or on paper, or by phone.
4. Additionally, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Health's hotline at 0-800-60-20-19, the government hotline for disability issues at 15-45, and the National Health Service of Ukraine's hotline at 16-77.
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