Mental health services in Ukraine are delivered at the level of primary care — in the same clinic where the family doctor sees patients. The state is now shifting from expanding access to improving the quality of that care in every facility.

Its participation in the National Dialogue was reported by the Bucha primary healthcare centre.

What the dialogue was

The event was organised by the Ministry of Health, the National Health Service and the Cabinet's Coordination Centre for Mental Health, with expert support from the WHO Country Office in Ukraine and funding from the Netherlands.

Since these services were folded into the Medical Guarantees Programme in 2022, more than one and a half million Ukrainians have received help. The discussion covered the division of roles within primary care teams and the use of data to assess quality.

What a clinic can provide

The programme specification covers screening for common mental disorders, emergency psychosocial help in a crisis, patient management with pharmacotherapy under the WHO mhGAP programme, and preventive work.

The basis for receiving it is a declaration with a primary care doctor. Without one, help is provided in an emergency. No separate referral is required.

Where to go in the community

The Bucha centre runs fourteen clinics: six in Bucha itself, the rest in Vorzel, Babyntsi, Blystavytsia, Havrylivka, Zdvyzhivka, Lubianka, Myrotske and Syniak.

If the service is refused or payment is demanded, complaints are taken by the National Health Service contact centre on the free number 16-77.

Nota bene

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