Free medical care for myocardial infarction is provided in 78 hospitals across the country under NHSU contracts within the package "Medical care for acute myocardial infarction". Therefore, regardless of place of registration or status, the patient can count on all necessary diagnostic examinations and treatment.
Myocardial infarction is a life-threatening condition caused by an acute disruption of coronary blood flow. Risk factors include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, a tendency to thrombosis, high blood cholesterol, atherosclerosis, obesity, hypertension, harmful habits, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Possible symptoms include:
sharp pain or burning in the chest
irregular heartbeat
a feeling of pressure behind the breastbone
spreading pain to the lower jaw, neck, shoulders, or arms
shortness of breath
nausea
dizziness
severe weakness
cold sweat
A person with suspected myocardial infarction needs urgent medical care. Delayed treatment can cause irreversible changes in the heart muscle and even cardiac arrest.
If a person has signs of a heart attack, call 103 immediately and describe the symptoms to the operator. In this case, the emergency medical team will transport the patient to the nearest medical facility that has an NHSU contract for heart attack treatment. During emergency care, place of registration and residence does not matter. A patient with suspected heart attack receives all necessary emergency diagnostics free of charge and, if the diagnosis is confirmed, the full range of medical care.
Medical care for heart attack is free under the Medical Guarantee Program. Demanding an electronic referral, charitable contributions, or separate payment for examinations from an internally displaced person is unlawful.
The patient receives:
primary examination and assessment of the general condition and vital functions
urgent determination of key biochemical indicators and specific cardiac blood tests to confirm myocardial damage, perform differential diagnosis, and support monitoring
24/7 laboratory tests, including complete blood count, biochemistry, coagulation tests, glucose, and markers of myocardial injury
24/7 instrumental diagnostics, including coronary angiography, electrocardiography, echocardiography, chest X-ray, and other necessary studies
emergency coronary catheterization and restoration of the maximum possible blood flow
pain relief and anesthesiology support at all stages of diagnosis and treatment
urgent consultations with doctors of other specialties
provision of medicines, including contrast agents, as well as medical devices for coronarography, angioplasty, and stenting
rehabilitation care in the acute period
inpatient meals
More information about the list of services is available on the NHSU website in the section "For citizens → Free services under the Medical Guarantee Program 2024 → Priority inpatient services".
Call the NHSU contact center at 16-77, where an operator will tell you which nearby facilities have an NHSU contract for heart attack treatment.
Use the analytical dashboard "Contracts for healthcare services under the Medical Guarantee Program". In the filters, choose the region, locality, and service group "6 Medical care for acute myocardial infarction". The map will show the nearest hospitals that diagnose and treat heart attack.
If an internally displaced person is asked to buy medicines at their own expense, pay for services covered by the Medical Guarantee Program, or make a charitable contribution, this violates patient rights and the NHSU contract conditions. In such a case, the patient or accompanying person should file a complaint:
by calling the NHSU contact center at 16-77
through the feedback form on the NHSU website in the "For citizens" section
The Medical Guarantee Program ensures that all Ukrainians have equal access to the same list of free medical services regardless of internally displaced status. More information about free medical services available under the Medical Guarantee Program can be found in the electronic guide "Guide to the Medical Guarantee Program for Patients 2024".
Download the guide