Key points
- Ukrainian doctors have prescribed patients 1 billion medical services through e-referrals.
- Since the service was launched, medics have created around 930 million e-referrals in total, and issue around 200 million each year.
- Since the start of 2026, doctors have written more than 61 million e-referrals.
- The most common e-referrals issued this year have been for consultations, laboratory diagnostics and imaging.
- E-referrals are valid for up to one year from the date they are created.
Ukrainian doctors have prescribed patients 1 billion medical services through e-referrals via the electronic healthcare system, the Ministry of Health has announced.
Since the service was launched, medics have created around 930 million e-referrals in total, with around 200 million issued each year. Since the start of 2026 alone, doctors have added more than 61 million.
The most frequent referrals issued this year have been for consultations – 22.4 million, laboratory diagnostics – 21.7 million, and imaging – 10 million. A further 2.1 million referrals each were issued for diagnostic procedures and hospitalisations, and 1.7 million for other procedures.
The e-referral is one of the most popular digital tools in healthcare. With an e-referral, which the patient receives on their phone as an SMS with a code, they can have a diagnostic test, a procedure or a consultation with a specialist free of charge at any medical facility that provides these services and has a contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine.
– Mariia Karchevych, Deputy Minister of Health for Digital Development.
To obtain an e-referral, the patient sees their attending doctor, who carries out an examination, sets a treatment plan and creates a record in the system. The patient then receives an SMS with the referral number; if they do not have a mobile phone, the doctor can issue a paper or electronic copy.
To use the referral, the patient simply gives the number to the registry desk at their chosen medical facility, or scans the barcode on the information leaflet. The service is free of charge if the facility has a contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine under the relevant package. This can be checked on the NHSU dashboard or by calling the contact centre on 16-77.
Once the service has been provided, the medic enters a corresponding record in the electronic system – and the number of prescribed services in the referral decreases, or the referral is closed.
E-referrals are valid for up to one year from the date of issue.
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