At early stages, cancer is curable. Timely diagnosis of cancer through instrumental examinations makes it possible to detect the disease early, increases the chances of successful treatment, and saves lives. The Medical Guarantee Program allows every citizen of Ukraine to undergo preventive cancer screening free of charge, regardless of place of residence or registration.

Early diagnosis of the most common cancers is a priority area of the Medical Guarantee Program and includes free services under six packages:

• Mammography — X-ray examination of the breasts to detect pathological changes in breast tissue.

• Hysteroscopy — examination of the uterine cavity and cervical canal that helps detect intrauterine pathologies at early stages.

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy — examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. It helps detect inflammatory processes, structural abnormalities of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and neoplasms, and also makes it possible to take biopsy material when needed.

• Colonoscopy — examination of the lining of the rectum, colon, and part of the terminal ileum to detect inflammatory processes and neoplasms, with the possibility of biopsy.

• Cystoscopy — examination of the urethra and bladder with the possibility of taking biopsy material and visualizing neoplasms.

• Bronchoscopy — examination of the trachea and bronchi that helps detect diseases of the mucous membranes and, if necessary, take tissue samples for biopsy or remove foreign bodies from the airways.

Internally displaced persons can receive early neoplasm diagnostic services at any of the 840 medical facilities that have NHSU contracts for the relevant service packages:

• mammography — 270 medical facilities;

• hysteroscopy — 503 medical facilities;

• esophagogastroduodenoscopy — 717 medical facilities;

• colonoscopy — 600 medical facilities;

• cystoscopy — 407 medical facilities;

• bronchoscopy — 294 medical facilities.

How to receive early detection services for neoplasms

An electronic referral is issued by a family doctor or attending physician. With this referral, the patient applies to a medical facility that provides the relevant service package.

Preventive diagnostic examinations are also available once patients reach a certain age. For mammography and colonoscopy, this is age 40 and above. For cystoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, hysteroscopy, and bronchoscopy, this is age 50 and above.

Within the selected packages, internally displaced persons, like all other citizens, are entitled to the following free services:

• consultation with a doctor before the examination;

• conducting the examination;

• consultation with an anesthesiologist before anesthesia support, if needed;

• local or general anesthesia, if needed;

• collection and referral of biological material for histological examination, if needed;

• description of examination results, preparation of the conclusion, and the procedure report;

• referral, if necessary, for specialized medical care or other healthcare services;

• provision of examination results on film and/or recording them to a digital medium at the patient's request.

The full scope of each diagnostic examination is available on the NHSU website in the section "Medical Guarantee Program requirements 2024".

How to find a facility that provides diagnostic examinations for early detection of neoplasms

• call the NHSU contact center at 16-77, where an operator will tell you which nearby medical facilities have an NHSU contract for the required examination;

• use the analytical dashboard "Electronic map of service delivery locations under the Medical Guarantee Program" on the NHSU website. In the filters, choose the region, locality, the "Type of care", and the required "Service package".

Where and how to complain if the service is denied or payment is demanded

If an internally displaced person is denied the service, asked to pay for a service covered by the Medical Guarantee Program, or asked to make a charitable contribution, this is a violation of patient rights and the terms of the NHSU contract with the medical facility. In such a case, a complaint should be submitted by:

• calling the NHSU contact center at 16-77, where an operator will help register the complaint;

• submitting a complaint through the electronic form on the NHSU website in the section "For citizens" -> "Feedback".