Since the new year, the Ministry of Health has significantly increased the rate for childbirth. How much money and for what types of services does the state allocate? What if I had to pay at the hospital?
What does the delivery rate mean?
For every birth, the hospital receives money from the state / istockphoto.com
Objectively, everyone knows that childbirth in Ukraine is free. However, not everyone understands why. It seems to many that the staff in maternity hospitals work for a meager salary and help women in labor almost out of good intentions. Therefore, we have such a widespread "envelope" practice: everyone, from nurses, midwives and ending with the head physician, should be encouraged or thanked for their active participation in childbirth.
In fact, the situation is slightly different. According to the Ukrainian program of medical guarantees, the maternity hospital receives a certain amount of money from the state for each delivery. Last year, this amount was UAH 10382. for standard physiological childbirth and C-section. The National Health Service calculated that the money was enough for both medicines and basic services for mom and baby.
True, in maternity hospitals they were unhappy with this amount. The chief doctors said that 10 thousand hryvnia can only cover childbirth without complications, but a cesarean section costs an order of magnitude more. Therefore, from the new year, the Ministry of Health decided to increase the tariff for delivery: according to the Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko, now the maternity hospital will receive UAH 15,101 for each delivery.
What is covered by the amount from the Ministry of Health?
Birthing rate includes partner birthing / istockphoto.com
By law, the delivery rate includes a full list of services for a woman in labor and her baby. Money from the state should cover the following items of expenditure (information from the NHSU):
- medical care for uncomplicated and complicated childbirth, as well as for cesarean section
- possibility of holding partner childbirth
- pain relief during labor (epidural anesthesia)
- laboratory and instrumental examinations (around the clock)
- intensive care for mother and child in case of complications
- the possibility of round-the-clock transportation of the mother and child to another medical facility (in case of complications)
- vaccinations for a newborn according to the national calendar of preventive vaccinations
- medicines and supplies from the National Essential Medicines List
- nutrition of the woman in labor during her stay in the hospital
What if I had to pay for the delivery?
You can appeal against extortions in childbirth and return the money through the NSZU / istockphoto.com
The Ministry of Health emphasizes: all of the listed items of expenditure should be absolutely free for the woman in labor. If the maternity hospital wants to earn something in excess of the rate for childbirth, you need to take care of the list of additional services. For example, it is not forbidden for expectant mothers to offer superior wards or improved nutrition for a separate fee.
If, however, a woman in labor in the hospital is required to pay for basic services (for example, for a partner delivery or epidural anesthesia), do not give money just like that. Demand an official invoice: on the basis of this document, you can complain to the NHSU. The service will force the maternity hospital to return the money to you, and the maternity hospital itself will be under threat of breaking the financing contract.
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