Free Heart Stent Procedures to Launch in 2026: How to Access the Service

Free Coronary Artery Stenting

According to Міністерство Здоров'я: Starting in 2026, scheduled coronary artery stenting for patients with chronic coronary syndromes will be provided free of charge under Ukraine's Medical Guarantees Program. The National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) will finance the service, and the state will centrally procure the necessary stents and related medical devices. This major policy shift means patients can receive this critical cardiac intervention without facing out-of-pocket expenses. This move aligns with broader European healthcare trends of expanding state-funded coverage for essential cardiovascular treatments.

The new program covers 17 categories of medical devices. In the past year alone, Ukraine's Ministry of Health has procured over 76,000 stent systems of various types. As of February 2026, medical facilities across the country hold an inventory of more than 36,000 stent systems, which includes:

• 8,500 drug-eluting stent systems for standard lesions,
• 15,600 systems for treating multiple lesions,
• approximately 12,000 systems designed for complex and calcified lesions.

To organize and plan stenting procedures, approved methodological guidelines have been issued to help hospitals calculate their needs for medical devices. Patients can also check the availability of specific stents at individual hospitals using an informational dashboard on the Ukrainian Ministry of Health's website. A total of 79 healthcare institutions nationwide are authorized to perform these free, scheduled stenting procedures.

The 'Health Screening 40+' Program

Additionally, a national 'Health Screening 40+' program was launched on January 1, 2026. This initiative represents a further step toward improving public access to quality medical services by focusing on early detection. To access the free scheduled stenting service, patients must first consult their family doctor or treating physician, undergo the required examinations, and if indications are confirmed, obtain a referral to one of the approved medical facilities from the designated list.

The introduction of free coronary artery stenting under the Medical Guarantees Program is a crucial step in enhancing healthcare accessibility for patients with chronic coronary syndromes.

Through centralized procurement of medical devices and the developed guidelines, healthcare facilities will be able to efficiently plan and organize the provision of these services, which is expected to have a positive impact on public health outcomes. The launch of the 'Health Screening 40+' program further underscores the state's commitment to disease prevention and raising the overall standard of medical care.