Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to amend the 2013 national budget and allocate funds for the prevention and fight against tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and viral hepatitis, the Ukrainian president's commissioner for children's rights, Yuriy Pavlenko, has said.

The president signed the instruction on affordable medical aid to people that suffer from TB, HIV/AIDS, and viral hepatitis on Friday, according to Pavlenko.

The children's ombudsman said that Ukraine is on the verge of epidemic of the abovementioned diseases.

"That's why the president instructed the Cabinet of Ministers and regional state administrations to ensure that people that suffer from TB, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis have access to medical aid," Pavlenko said.

"With this aim the president ordered the cabinet to draw up amendments to the national budget on the results of Q1, 2013 and foresee grounded expenditures on measures for the prevention and fight against these diseases," he said.

According to Pavlenko, the president stressed that it is necessary to buy and supply medicines for patients in time in 2013.

The children's ombudsman said that the head of state ordered the government to improve the system of state management in the sphere of fight and prevention of the diseases, as well as improve mechanisms of use of contributions from charitable and international organizations into fight against the diseases.

The head of state also asked the government and public and international organizations to develop a program for prevention of HIV infections, medical aid, treatment and assistance to HIV positive people and people with AIDS for 2014-2018.

In addition, the president ordered to improve the state anti-TB program that was passed in 2012.