Access to infertility treatment using assisted reproductive technologies under the medical guarantees program is an important support for Ukrainian families, but when choosing a clinic, patients should focus not on promises of results, but on the quality of the medical team, the laboratory, the transparency of the treatment plan and clear communication.
Assisted reproductive technologies, in particular in vitro fertilization, or IVF, are not a single procedure. This is an individually planned medical process that includes consultations, diagnostics, medication preparation, the embryological stage, safety monitoring and further observation.
The state finances infertility treatment using ART in medical institutions that have the relevant contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine. The medical guarantees program allows patients to receive such treatment free of charge if there are medical indications and if they apply to an institution that has a contract with the NHSU.
Within the program, specialist consultations, medication stimulation, ultrasound monitoring, egg retrieval, sperm preparation, in vitro fertilization, including with the use of ICSI, embryo cultivation, embryo transfer into the uterine cavity and monitoring of the patient’s condition until pregnancy is established may be provided.
The patient’s age at the time of the start of the cycle must be no more than 40 years. If the first cycle did not lead to pregnancy, the possibility of a repeated cycle during the year is determined by the conditions of the program and medical indications.
At the same time, the list of services, indications and organizational requirements may be updated. Before starting treatment, patients are advised to clarify with the clinic what exactly is included in the state package in a specific case, what studies may be required additionally and what decisions are made individually after a doctor’s consultation.
In reproductive medicine, the result of treatment is formed by the work of an entire team — a reproductive specialist, embryologist, andrologist, geneticist, anesthesiologist, ultrasound diagnostics specialist, medical coordinators and other specialists.
Experts emphasize that in this field it is unethical to promise a specific result. The probability of pregnancy and the birth of a child depends on the patient’s age, ovarian reserve, causes of infertility, sperm quality, the condition of the uterus and endometrium, genetic factors, previous reproductive history, the number of embryos obtained and other clinical circumstances.
Therefore, when choosing a clinic, patients should pay attention to the presence of a contract with the NHSU, the experience of the team, its own embryology laboratory, the quality management system, a transparent treatment plan, the possibility of genetic counseling according to indications, the availability of modern technologies, the quality of communication and the further medical route after embryo transfer.
The embryology laboratory has special importance. A significant part of the IVF process takes place precisely there: specialists work with eggs and sperm, carry out fertilization, cultivate embryos, assess their development and prepare them for transfer or cryopreservation.
It is important for patients to understand that the laboratory must work according to standardized protocols, ensure control of the environment and use systems that minimize the risk of errors when working with biomaterial.
Some additional technologies, such as time-lapse monitoring of embryo development or IMSI for more detailed morphological selection of sperm, may be useful in certain clinical situations. However, their use must be determined by medical indications and not be perceived as a universal guarantee of success.
Modern reproductive medicine may also include genetic counseling and preimplantation genetic testing of embryos. Such studies may be recommended in cases of known hereditary diseases in the family, carriage of genetic changes, chromosomal rearrangements in partners, repeated pregnancy losses or other medical indications.
At the same time, genetic testing does not exclude all possible medical risks and is not a guarantee of the birth of a healthy child. The decision to conduct it must be made individually after consultation with a doctor and a geneticist.
A comprehensive approach to infertility treatment may include additional examinations, correction of concomitant conditions, consultations with a geneticist, endocrinologist, gynecological surgeon or pregnancy management specialist. Therefore, for the patient, not only the availability of individual services is important, but also coordination between specialists, a clear treatment route and the preservation of medical documentation.
The Nadiya Clinic has been working in the field of reproductive medicine for more than two decades and provides services in Kyiv and Lviv. For patients considering treatment under the NHSU program, practical advantages may include the presence of a specialized team, an embryology direction, genetic counseling according to indications and a coordinated route from the initial consultation to further observation.
At the same time, the decision on treatment in any medical institution should be made after a personal consultation. It is precisely during the consultation that the patient can assess how clearly the treatment plan is explained to them, whether the specialists are ready to answer difficult questions, whether they take into account the individual history and how comfortable the communication with the team is.
Before the first consultation, patients are advised to prepare the results of previous studies, discharge summaries after operations or treatment, information about previous pregnancies, pregnancy losses or ART programs, if there were any.
It is also worth discussing in advance with the doctor the possible cause of infertility, the need for additional examinations, the stages that are included in the state package, possible additional decisions or expenses, indications for consultation with a geneticist, the procedure for communication with the team during treatment and realistic expectations specifically in a particular clinical situation.
The state infertility treatment program expands access to important medical care, but the quality of treatment depends not only on financing. It is determined by the accuracy of diagnostics, the coordination of the team, laboratory standards, honest communication and the patient’s right to receive clear information before every decision.
Nadiya Clinic is a medical institution specializing in reproductive medicine, infertility treatment and assisted reproductive technology programs. The clinic operates in Kyiv and Lviv, provides consultations with reproductive specialists and supports patients at different stages of treatment.
Ukrainian clinics have signed more than 100 memorandums of understanding as part of the international medical partnership program launched under the patronage of Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska.
According to the Ministry of Health, 26 of these memorandums were signed with medical institutions in France and are being implemented with the support of Expertise France, the French interministerial agency for international cooperation and development.
For example, as part of the partnership, the Chernihiv Regional Children’s Hospital is collaborating with the University Hospital of Lille, and the Chernihiv Regional Psychoneurological Hospital is collaborating with the University Hospital of Nîmes.
The Ministry of Health notes that in June 2024, the governments of Ukraine and France signed an intergovernmental grant agreement totaling 200 million euros, part of which is allocated to the healthcare sector and critical infrastructure: seven agreements in the healthcare sector have been signed, totaling 51 million euros. In addition, in 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified framework agreements between Ukraine and France on cooperation in the reconstruction and modernization of hospitals and in oncology diagnostics.
FRANCE, international partnership, MEDICINE, Ministry of Health
Lithuania is investing €15 million to strengthen the rehabilitation system and modernize the healthcare system in Ukraine.
According to the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA), which is implementing the program, the project is funded by the Lithuanian Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Development Fund and the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense, as reported to Interfax-Ukraine.
The program covers three strategically important rehabilitation centers—in Lviv, Dnipro, and Zhytomyr. Specifically, in Dnipro, the university hospital will receive a 34-bed inpatient rehabilitation ward with 18 rooms featuring modern physical and occupational therapy facilities, as well as a shelter for 80 people.
In Zhytomyr, the rehabilitation ward of one of the military hospitals will be modernized: 11 two-bed rooms, a shelter for 200 people, and solar panels for energy self-sufficiency during massive attacks will be added.
The project also supports the development of the UNBROKEN rehabilitation center in Lviv and its expansion from 70 to 120 beds through the construction of a third floor and a specialized rehabilitation pool.
“Today, international support for Ukraine continues, but it needs visibility. It is critically important for partners to see that their aid not only reaches its destination but is also visible, valuable, and important to Ukrainian society,” the CPVA notes.
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.
