Health Minister Lashko Announces 13 Billion Hryvnia for Emergency Care and Doctor Salaries in Donetsk Region

Health Minister Visits Donetsk Oblast

According to Міністерство Здоров'я: During a working visit to Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's Health Minister Viktor Lashko reviewed funding for medical facilities, including emergency care, and inspected the work of services responsible for evacuating the wounded. The 2026 Medical Guarantees Program allocates 13.1 billion hryvnias for emergency medical aid, an increase of over 2 billion hryvnias from 2025. Minister Lashko also noted that the basic capitation rate has been raised to 375 hryvnias. This visit underscores the government's focus on a region heavily impacted by the ongoing war.

Funding and Support for Medical Institutions

The Donetsk Regional Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine holds over 160 million hryvnias in leftover funds from previous periods of the Medical Guarantees Program. Starting in April 2026, the institution will receive over 17 million hryvnias monthly under its contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine. Approximately 3.5 million hryvnias of this monthly sum will be allocated for motivational bonuses to staff.

A new department has been established at the State Institution 'Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center of Emergency Medical Aid and Disaster Medicine' to improve coordination for inter-hospital transfers. Specialists from the MOAS-Ukraine Charitable Fund have joined this unit. The department's staff includes:

• 19 anesthesiologists
• 21 paramedics
• 19 emergency medical technicians

Additionally, 19 specialized teams have been formed to transport critically ill patients. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, MOAS teams have provided aid to over 81,000 patients.

This year, a hospital in Kramatorsk has signed contracts with the National Health Service totaling over 392 million hryvnias, which is 62 million hryvnias more than last year. This hospital employs about 1,000 specialists, and the average monthly salary for a doctor in January was 44,280 hryvnias. It was noted that for 2026, the National Health Service has concluded 74 contracts with 62 medical institutions in the Donetsk region, for a total sum exceeding 1.66 billion hryvnias. As of the end of February, over 221 million hryvnias have already been paid for services rendered.

Viktor Lashko stressed the importance of the center using its financial resources effectively, emphasizing that funds must be directed toward ensuring stable service operations and proper compensation for medical workers. 'I expect the regional authorities to make appropriate management decisions regarding the center's leadership, as well as a clear plan for future work-specifically regarding the rational use of funds, ensuring workers' labor rights, and organizing medical care provision while considering the security situation in the region.'

The Health Minister's visit to Donetsk Oblast highlights the Ukrainian government's efforts to improve medical services in regions affected by the conflict. The increased funding for emergency care and the creation of new departments to coordinate the transfer of severely ill patients demonstrate a commitment to maintaining adequate medical care under challenging conditions. The further development of medical institutions in Donetsk Oblast will depend on effective resource management and support at the local level.