Ukraine’s ‘Affordable Medicines’ Program Expands: Key Changes Coming in May and July 2026

Expansion of the Affordable Medicines Program

According to ХВИЛЯ: Ukraine’s state reimbursement initiative, the Affordable Medicines program, is set to broaden its scope with an updated list of pharmaceutical products scheduled for July 2026. A major focus will be on medications for outpatient treatment of heart conditions, as over 800,000 Ukrainians are diagnosed with coronary heart disease each year. Starting May 10, 2026, pharmacies will begin offering drugs under seven new international nonproprietary names, targeting chronic lung diseases, diabetes, and thrombosis prevention.

Program Coverage and New Developments

The Affordable Medicines program now serves more than 6.18 million Ukrainian citizens, with a participating pharmacy network exceeding 17,000 locations. In 2026, the Medical Guarantees Program made planned cardiac stenting free of charge. During the first few months of 2026 alone, doctors issued 3.5 million electronic prescriptions. The program’s registry includes 748 items, such as insulins and medical devices.

Reimbursement for the new drugs will be based on a fixed share of the package cost. Health Minister Viktor Liashko commented:

“The highest demand within the program is for cardiovascular disease treatments. For many people with these conditions, therapy lasts years, often a lifetime. This mostly affects older individuals, for whom medication costs are critical.” - Viktor Liashko

The Affordable Medicines program represents a vital step in ensuring access to essential drugs, particularly for vulnerable populations, and underscores the government’s commitment to improving healthcare. Expanding the program and adding new medications will help ease the financial burden on patients with chronic diseases, potentially boosting overall public health. Additionally, the National Health Screening Program ‘40+’ also works to enhance population well-being.

As the Affordable Medicines program continues to evolve, recent updates highlight the government's proactive approach to healthcare. In addition to the upcoming expansions, earlier changes have also significantly impacted access to essential medications. For instance, the program recently introduced five new drug types, enhancing the variety of treatments available to the public. This ongoing commitment to improving medication accessibility underscores the importance of these initiatives for the health of millions of Ukrainians.