National screening that transforms healthcare: why Ukraine stands on the verge of a systemic breakthrough
Kyrylo Goncharuk, CEO CheckEye
Ukraine is entering a new phase of health system transformation. The national screening program for people aged 40+ may become a decisive step toward a fundamental shift from reactive medicine, where we treat consequences, to a proactive model focused on preventing severe complications and preserving citizens’ working capacity.
The program offers many opportunities for patients, but it also sets strict requirements for healthcare facilities — covering infrastructure, service delivery, digital tools, laboratory quality, patient routing, and ethical standards of care. For the first time, these aspects are described in such a detailed and structured form at the national level.
- Why national screening is critical for the country today
We have long known these facts, but now they are shaping policy:
• More than 80% of deaths in Ukraine are caused by non-communicable diseases.
• Most of them can be prevented if detected early.
• Only 1 in 10 Ukrainians undergoes regular preventive checkups.
The National Check-Up program aims to close this gap by creating a unified framework that ensures every person aged 40+ receives equal, high-quality service — regardless of where they live.
- Standards that shape a new culture of healthcare
The program sets more than 200 requirements for the screening process.
Three groups are especially important:
Service and accessibility
Mandatory:
• appointments at convenient times, including Saturdays and early-morning slots;
• waiting time — no more than 15 minutes;
• “one-stop visit” — all examinations within 60–90 minutes;
• home visits for patients with low mobility.
This clearly indicates a shift toward a patient-centred model.
Quality and safety
The project clearly sets requirements for:
• laboratory methods,
• turnaround time for results,
•critical lab values requiring a mandatory doctor’s call within 30 minutes,
• participation of laboratories in external quality assurance systems.
Digitalisation and data
The system requires:
• full integration with the national eHealth system,
• digital questionnaires,
• automated calculation of SCORE2, FINDRISC, PHQ-9, GAD-7 risk scores,
• online delivery of results using a “traffic light” format.
The program explicitly allows the use of AI technologies as supportive tools to enhance personalisation and efficiency of screening.
This is a clear signal that digital prevention is becoming the norm.
- Why this matters for the economy and national recovery
A country at war cannot afford to lose people to preventable complications.
Early diagnosis:
• reduces disability,
• decreases the burden on hospitals,
• lowers state expenditures on social payments, treatment of complications, and rehabilitation.
International estimates are clear: every 1 dollar invested in prevention saves 4–7 dollars for the healthcare system and the economy.
Ukraine may become the first country in Europe to make preventive screening digital, systematic, and large-scale simultaneously.
- Where innovative companies like CheckEye come in
The draft requirements allow the use of digital solutions and AI algorithms as supportive tools within the screening process. This opens the door to innovations that can address one of the key challenges — scaling high-quality diagnostics amid a shortage of doctors.
For example, our retinal imaging analysis technology enables the detection of diabetes-related complications earlier than symptoms appear, in less than 30 seconds.
In a system where millions of people must be screened annually, this is not just a “useful tool” — it is critical infrastructure.
- Key conclusion: Ukraine is shaping a new standard of prevention
Today, Ukraine is doing what other EU countries have been moving toward for decades. And that is precisely why we can become an example of how a country at war lays the foundation for a healthier, stronger, and economically resilient nation.