More than 15% of Ukrainians noticed that the cost of medicines increased by more than 50% during 2024-2025, while 52% of Ukrainians noted a 20%-50% increase in the cost of medicines.
According to Alexander Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group, this is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by Active Group and the Experts Club analytical center in early February and presented to Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.
Pozniy noted that a third of those surveyed said that medicine prices had remained almost unchanged, while 2.6% said that they had even decreased.
“In general, it can be noted that the cost of medicines has risen quite significantly, and this is noted by almost the absolute majority (of respondents),” he said, explaining that medicines account for about 10-20% of the household budget, which is why the price increase is so noticeable.
Pozniy noted that, according to the survey, when buying medicines, 25% of Ukrainians pay attention to price, while 24.5% pay attention to effectiveness.
“That is, slightly more than half pay attention to the combination of price and effectiveness of the selected medicines. Therefore, people try to find the optimal combination that would provide the best effect and the least financial burden in terms of treatment,” he said.
In addition, Pozniy said that 28.4% of respondents prefer Ukrainian medicines, while 33.4% prefer imported ones. For 38% of respondents, the country of origin of the drugs does not matter.
According to the results, 31.4% of respondents believe that using electronic prescriptions is very convenient, 44% believe it is somewhat convenient, 18.7% believe it is somewhat inconvenient, and only 5.9% believe it is very inconvenient.
For his part, Maksim Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center, noted that the price of medicines is a key factor for Ukrainian citizens.
“Against this backdrop, it is particularly important how state mechanisms for reimbursement and compensation for the cost of medicines work. There is a state reimbursement program, but only 13% of Ukrainians use it. Therefore, reimbursement needs to be promoted among citizens,” he said.
The survey was conducted on the SunFlowerSociology online panel using a representative sample on February 11-12, 2026. The survey involved 1,000 respondents from a representative sample in all regions of Ukraine, except for the temporarily occupied territories.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, MEDICINE, Pozniy, REFORM, URAKIN
Ukrainians cite the outflow of medical personnel and the destruction of medical infrastructure by the aggressor as the main reasons for the deterioration in the availability of medical services during the war.
According to the results of a survey conducted by the research company Active Group and the Experts Club analytical center in early February and presented to the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Friday, 48% of respondents noted that they felt a deterioration in medical services during the war.
Among the main problems of medicine in wartime, 60% of respondents cited the outflow of medical personnel, 22.7% cited the destruction of medical infrastructure, and 13.4% cited a shortage of medicines.
“Considering that the deterioration in medical services is due to the fact that medical facilities have either been physically destroyed or doctors have left them, the fact that only 48% of respondents felt a deterioration is not a bad result. The main problems in medicine during the war are the outflow of medical personnel, followed by the destruction of infrastructure, and then the shortage of medicines. In other words, we see that the main problem is the shortage of medical personnel,” said Active Group founder Andrey Eremenko.
The reforms carried out in the medical sector in recent years have contributed to the fact that medicine continues to function, and the fact that people talk about the lack of improvement or deterioration in the quality of medical services, according to the expert, is still “not subject to harsh criticism.”
According to the survey, 7.2% currently rate the state of affairs in the healthcare system as very poor, 18.7% as rather poor, 16.7% as rather good, and 2% as very good. At the same time, 54.6% gave it an average rating.
At the same time, 29.5% of respondents completely trust their family doctor, and 61.9% trust them partially.
When assessing the possibility of obtaining consultations from a family doctor in their region, 88.8% of respondents said that it was very easy or easy to do so, while 21% said it was very difficult or difficult.
Just over 10% of respondents noted that their local hospital has a sufficient supply of medicines and modern equipment, while 45.8% said that there is a partial supply.
At the same time, 40% of respondents noted that consultations with a specialist take up to a week, 28.4% take 1-2 weeks, and 11.5% take more than a month. In 2024-2025, 68% of respondents regularly paid for medical services themselves.
At the same time, 16% of respondents noted that they spend less than 5% of their family budget on medicine, while almost 21% of respondents reported spending more than 20%.
“The study revealed both the positive and painful aspects of the Ukrainian healthcare system. The most painful issue is the brain drain. But it is important to see the strengths as well. I was very pleased that the level of trust in family doctors is very high. So, the foundation for the development of the healthcare system is there, although, in particular due to the war, there are economic barriers and barriers to accessibility,” said Maksim Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) believes that the introduction of non-price criteria for the procurement of medicines at public expense should be as transparent as possible.
“The chamber’s member companies support the need to introduce non-price criteria. The lowest price does not always ensure the proper quality of equipment, as a result of which the patient’s needs are not met, and the state ends up spending more money on the healthcare system. It is also important that the process of introducing and applying non-price criteria be as transparent as possible,” AmCham told Interfax-Ukraine, commenting on the results of a roundtable discussion on “Non-price criteria in public procurement of medical devices: European practices and opportunities for Ukraine,” which the chamber recently held with the participation of international experts and the leadership of Ukrainian regulatory authorities.
AmCham recalled that a revision of Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of February 26, 2014, is planned for 2026, including in terms of price orientation in procurement.
“The main criterion for procurement continues to be the lowest price, but, unfortunately, in practice, this does not ensure timely delivery and delivery in full, quality, and sufficient service life of the medical device. That is why, in particular, EU countries and the UK use non-price criteria or value-oriented procurement,” the chamber notes.
In turn, Oleg Kletz, Director General of the Ministry of Health, noted during the event that “price is an important indicator, but it is not synonymous with quality or uninterrupted supply.”
“We are moving towards a more comprehensive evaluation model, where, along with price, proven quality, ability to fulfill the contract, and clinical effectiveness are taken into account. That is why we are engaged in an open dialogue with the market and the expert community to develop an approach that will ensure competition and transparency and, most importantly, the uninterrupted availability of high-quality free medicines and medical devices for Ukrainians,” he said.
The private medicine market in Ukraine continues to show growth despite the war and economic challenges. According to experts, the private sector is increasingly competing with state institutions, forming new standards of quality and service.
“We see that Ukrainians have started to invest more in health. If in the 2000s private medicine was perceived as an addition to state hospitals, now it is a full-fledged alternative”, – said the director of Oxford Medical network Tetyana Sidorova.
According to Pro-Consulting, before the war, the share of private medicine was about 10-15%. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and then military conditions accelerated the transformation. The development of telemedicine, the expansion of networks in bedroom communities and the emergence of highly specialized areas were key factors in strengthening the market position.
Oxford Medical is the largest network of multidisciplinary medical centers in Ukraine, founded in 2005. The network unites dozens of branches in different regions, providing a full range of medical services: from outpatient appointments and laboratory diagnostics to surgery, dentistry and inpatient care.
A new interview has been published on the Experts Club YouTube channel with leading Ukrainian obstetrician-gynecologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences Volodymyr Terekhov, focusing on key challenges and trends in modern gynecology. The physician, with over 15 years of experience, shares his observations on women’s health, diagnosis and treatment of gynecological diseases, as well as prospects for the development of the field in Ukraine and worldwide.
Main topics discussed
• Late diagnosis issues: According to Terekhov, up to 70% of patients seek medical help only at advanced stages of illness, including cancer, inflammatory, and hormonal disorders.
• Reproductive health: Special attention is given to declining fertility among young women, a growing trend linked to lifestyle, stress, and hormonal imbalances.
• Role of prevention: The guest emphasizes that regular check-ups and screenings (such as cytology and ultrasound) are effective early detection tools for diseases like cervical and ovarian cancer.
• Technological advancement: The conversation also covers progress in minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopy, and new diagnostic methods.
In Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Health and international NGOs, one in three women of reproductive age faces a gynecological condition — from fibroids to endometriosis. Around 4,500 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually, making it one of the most common cancers among women in the country.
Globally, according to WHO, gynecological conditions affect every second woman over 30. Cervical cancer claims more than 300,000 lives annually despite the availability of vaccination and screening. Endometriosis affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age, and infertility affects one in seven couples.
Dr. Volodymyr Terekhov notes that the future of gynecology lies in the integration of new technologies, a multidisciplinary approach, patient education, and digitalization of healthcare. However, this requires investment, reforms, and state support.
Watch the full interview on the Experts Club YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOh20BZmI9g
Subscribe here:
https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub
Metinvest Group, together with the administration and the Defense Council of Kryvyi Rih, has focused its efforts on major projects to renovate the city’s healthcare facilities, according to a press release citing Igor Toniev, CEO of United Mining and Processing Plant (UMPP).
“The largest project currently being implemented by Metinvest is the overhaul of the buildings of the polyclinic and X-ray department of Kryvyi Rih City Hospital No. 3. The company has allocated almost UAH 125 million for this large-scale work. This month, the overhaul of the main inpatient building of City Hospital No. 7 is scheduled to begin. Metinvest is allocating UAH 61.6 million for the development of project documentation, general construction, roofing, and facade work,” said the top manager.
At a meeting between Metinvest Group management and the head of the City Defense Council, Oleksandr Vilkul, it was noted that the project to overhaul the third hospital began in 2023, with funding from both Kryvyi Rih and Metinvest. Equipment for X-rays and fluorography was purchased with funds from the local budget. Also, the second and third floors of the polyclinic will be renovated at the expense of the city. As part of the project to overhaul the polyclinic of the third hospital, the group undertook the construction work and modernization of the first floor, the X-ray department, and the construction of a shelter for 350 people.
Vilkul stated that the city is actively implementing a large number of projects in the field of medicine. In particular, there is one large-scale project that is starting – the reconstruction of Hospital No. 7, which is the main cluster institution for the northern part of the district, Zhovti Vody, and the surrounding villages. The project involves the renovation of the main inpatient department. The project is being financed from three sources: the city budget, a grant won in a competition organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure (this will be co-financed by the European Investment Bank through the Ministry of Infrastructure), and funds from Metinvest.
“By joining forces, we are implementing a medical project that is important for the community,” Vilkul stated.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical companies. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine, in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The main shareholders of the holding company are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
