The government when finalizing the draft national budget for 2017 for second reading, taking into account the proposals of deputies, has decided to increase state guarantees for defense and security projects by UAH 1 billion, to UAH 7 billion, according to Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk.

Presenting the draft budget at an extraordinary cabinet meeting in Kyiv, he said that another UAH 500 million is foreseen for reimbursement, in addition to UAH 5.9 billion for purchase of medicines for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes and asthma, and UAH 150 million for purchase of equipment for cardiovascular surgery centers in co-financing with local authorities.

Among other additional costs, the government foresaw during the preparation of the draft budget for second reading, Danyliuk noted costs of inclusive education, as well as for combatants and their children.

He also clarified that the increase in the minimum wage to UAH 3,200 per month from January 1, 2017, proposed by the Cabinet, will apply to 3.5 million people, of whom 2.6 million people in the private sector.