Medicine in the line of fire: how the state will supply frontline hospitals in 2026
25 February 10:55
EXCLUSIVE
Despite the war and daily shelling, the Ministry of Health’s centralized procurement system continues to supply medicines even to cities living under the sound of artillery fire.
In response to a request from "Komersant Ukrainian", the Ministry of Health outlined the mechanism for supplying hospitals and explained why it is impossible to name a single percentage for “basic drug coverage.”
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the concept of “basic essential medicines” does not have a clearly defined regulatory list within a separate budget program. Needs vary significantly depending on the profile of the hospital, the number of patients, and the region.
Centralized procurement is carried out by the state-owned enterprise Medzakupivli Ukrainy in accordance with Ministry of Health Order No. 589 of February 28, 2020. Each year, the ministry approves 100% of the consolidated demand for medicines and medical products under program KPCVK 2301400 — “Provision of medical measures for individual state programs and comprehensive program measures.”
In fact, it is only possible to assess provision in terms of specific international non-proprietary names and treatment programs. The Ministry of Health emphasizes that a generalized “percentage of provision of basic medicines” would not reflect the real picture.
At the same time, the company monitors stocks on a quarterly basis to prevent them from falling below the minimum level or accumulating surpluses, both at the regional level and in individual medical institutions.
Over the past six months, the state has not reported any systemic supply disruptions, but acknowledges that there have been delays in the delivery of certain items. The reasons for this are either the dishonesty of suppliers or production difficulties. In response, Medzakupivli is pursuing claims and lawsuits: in 2025 alone, almost UAH 72 million in fines and penalties (about 60 contracts) were collected for the state budget.
To minimize risks, purchases are often divided into several procedures and deliveries in several batches. In addition, a mechanism has been introduced to reject tender bids from companies that have previously failed to deliver.
Frontline regions: logistics under fire
The most sensitive issue is the situation in the frontline territories.
Despite the security risks, deliveries continue to regions where fighting is ongoing. In particular, medicines are delivered to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region.
This is not just about basic emergency care drugs. According to the Ministry of Health, the following are being delivered to these cities:
- medicines to promote blood donation;
- medicines for the treatment of cancer;
- therapy for patients with hemophilia and multiple sclerosis;
- medicines for orphan diseases, immunodeficiencies, and cystic fibrosis;
- medicines for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis;
- hearing aids and other medical devices.
In fact, this is about ensuring the continuity of complex and expensive courses of treatment, the interruption of which can have critical consequences.
Equipment: focus on diagnostics and “heavy” medicine
In 2025–2026, medical equipment purchases are being made under several budget programs, including KPCVK 2301400, KPCVK 2301800 (“Implementation of public investment projects of the Ministry of Health”) and within the UNITED24 fundraising platform.
Under the EU’s Ukraine Facility program, MRI and X-ray systems and equipment for nuclear medicine centers were purchased, primarily to improve cancer diagnostics. UNITED24 financed, in particular, X-ray equipment, intensive care incubators for newborns, and armored vehicles for evacuating the wounded.
Separately, in 2025, specialized equipment was purchased for the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Officially, the centralized procurement system is working steadily, even in frontline regions. At the same time, the Ministry of Health avoids generalized indicators of “basic medicine” provision, explaining this by the difference in needs between institutions.
The real situation, as follows from the ministry’s responses, is a balance between complex logistics, contractual discipline of suppliers, and constant monitoring of stocks. And while the state imposes tens of millions of hryvnia in fines on unscrupulous companies, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk continue to receive drugs for cancer patients, patients with rare diseases, and those who need urgent care on a daily basis.
