The Minister of Health online (PHOTOS)

During a video conference, the Minister of Health of Ukraine Raisa Bohatyryova, patients and staff of regional and local children’s hospitals from all regions of Ukraine discussed how to ensure quality healthcare for children and solve the critical problems.  

In Transcarpathia, the conversation with the Minister took place at the regional children’s hospital and the regional health department. Deputy head of the health department Tetyana Matsyo told about the situation with provision of medicine for children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). This disease is one of the most serious ones, leading to progressive rheumatic process which results in joints immobilization. Children are not able to maintain themselves, need around the clock care, their life expectancy is reduced. Today, 12 children with a severe form of the disease are registered in the region. The only guarantee of salvation and fulfilling life for them is a constant and continuous treatment with the expensive drug "Humira" that prevents the disease progression. In order to provide those children with the needed medicine, more than 2 million hryvnias are required annually. This is a significant financial burden for the regional children’s hospital where children with other severe pathologies from all over the region are treated.

Tetyana Matsyo asked the Minister whether they planned at the ministry level to provide medical support of children with this pathology.

Responding to this question, Raisa Bohatyryova noted that last year it was decided to fully provide such patients with medications at the state level. In 2013, 16.7 million hryvnias were allocated from the state budget.   Soon, the medicine will be delivered to medical facilities.

Also, the Minister noted that despite the considerable network of health care institutions, children in cities and in rural areas do not have equal opportunities to receive medical care.   According to Raisa Bohatyryova, this imbalance needs to be corrected, because children must have access to quality health care regardless of where they live.

In pediatric medicine, there are other issues that need to be addressed. Following the analysis of materials submitted by the regions during the "Ask the Minister" campaign, it was determined the two most urgent issues of concern to professionals of pediatric service. First of all, it is the issue of logistics of children’s hospitals and providing young patients with free medicines and consumables.

"When the responsibility for provision of sick children with medicines is transferred to parents, it provokes their righteous indignation and reduces the health care opportunities for young patients, because of limited financial resources of their families," – the head of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine said and addressed to the heads of departments of health and chief regional pediatricians with the request to initiate the consideration of this issue at sessions of regional, city and village councils.

Source: Press Center of the Health Department in Transcarpathian region