In Vinnytsia, a cardiology center demanded 80 thousand hryvnias from a veteran for treatment. What the Ministry of Health says
19 March 2025 19:26
At the Vinnytsia Cardiology Center, which is supervised by the city council, the veteran was extorted for treatment and surgery. The authorities promised to check.
This was reported by Andriy Grachev, a participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war and head of the Department of Veteran Policy of the Vinnytsia City Council, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to him, on March 18, he visited the cardiac center because a veteran with a disability was extorted 80,000 hryvnias. The man was brought there by an ambulance with a suspected heart attack.
“My fellow soldier’s wife was given a list of what she needed to buy and clearly indicated the location of the pharmacy. After paying for some of the medicines, they did not give them to her, but handed her a check to take to the department,” the official said, adding that the medicines were to be issued by a doctor afterwards.
Grachev talked to the head of the department, Ihor Sklyarov, and filmed it. When he clarified that the veteran had to buy 80 thousand hryvnias worth of medicines, the employee replied: “This is a circus. If you don’t want to buy it, don’t buy it, am I forcing you?”
According to the veteran, he also had a conversation with the director of the center. He “assured me that it was an unfortunate accident” and promised to rectify the situation.
Then the man was admitted for surgery. He needed double bypass surgery, but only one shunt was placed, because they demanded payment for the second one. According to Grachev, after the operation was suspended, the veteran was given 7 days to find the money.
“Apparently, there is a need for the veteran community to gather near the cardiac center. Because all the promises made to me by the local authorities and the head of the center are null and void. Complete impunity and impudence,” the official emphasized.
Grachev called for the dismissal of the head of the cardiac center and demanded the intervention of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Veterans.
What does the Ministry of Health say?
The Ministry of Health announced that it had immediately set up a commission and was checking the information together with the NHS and law enforcement. If it is confirmed, the agency will appeal to the owner of the medical facility, the city council, with a request to make appropriate personnel decisions regarding the center’s management, and will pass the materials to law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Health Department of Vinnytsia City Council has launched an internal investigation. If violations are confirmed, the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
