Poroshenko hopes for progress in healthcare reform in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has expressed the hope that the government, the parliament and community would show progress in further implementation of healthcare reform in Ukraine.

"The government, the parliament and community will shortly form their common vision of healthcare reform which must meet modern requirements," the president said during a visit to the Main Military Clinical Hospital of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine in Kyiv on Friday.

The head of state stressed that it is important to develop high quality medicine measured not by a number of beds, but by high professionalism of the staff, high quality services and modern equipment, relevant prevention and rehabilitation systems.

Poroshenko recalled that two years ago combat medics were facing a significant shortage of necessary medicines for servicemen. However, despite "resistance of bureaucracy and pharmaceutical mafia" the procedure of medicine registration has been changed.

"This is just the beginning of a serious and deep healthcare reform which our country needs," the president said.