The state will cover the cost of a bone-anchored prosthesis: who is eligible for 1.2 million UAH?

A two-year pilot scheme is being launched in Ukraine under which osseointegrated prosthetics will be available at the state’s expense. The method is primarily intended for people with complex amputations for whom a conventional prosthesis with a socket is unsuitable.

Important: the 1.2 million UAH will not be paid to the patient in cash. This is a top-up payment from the National Health Service of Ukraine for a single direct bone-anchored prosthesis system. The NSZU will also cover the cost of the operation and inpatient rehabilitation under the Medical Guarantees Programme, whilst the external prosthesis and its maintenance will be funded by the Social Protection Fund for People with Disabilities.

Details

Osteointegrated prosthetics differ from conventional methods in that a metal implant is placed directly into the bone, to which the external prosthesis is then attached. This eliminates the need for the traditional socket that encases the stump.

According to the Ministry of Health, the scheme is intended for patients with a short or deformed hip or shoulder stump for whom non-invasive socket-based prosthetics are unsuitable. Among the reasons cited by the ministry are chronic pain, scarring, dermatitis and ulcers.

To be eligible for the scheme, patients will need to complete several stages:

• obtain advisory reports from two prosthetics companies on whether non-invasive prosthetic methods can be used;
• be assessed by a committee at a medical facility, which will evaluate the indications and contraindications;
• obtain approval of their candidacy from specialists at the Ministry of Health;
• provide written informed consent after being informed of the risks, alternatives and expected outcome.

Not all hospitals will be able to provide this service. The Ministry of Health will identify state and municipal institutions that hold a medical licence and have contracts with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NSZU) covering both inpatient surgery and inpatient rehabilitation. The announcement published on 8 September does not yet specify a particular list of hospitals.

Funding will be shared between two state bodies. The National Health Service of Ukraine (NSZU) will cover the cost of the surgical procedure, inpatient rehabilitation and the co-payment for the direct bone fixation system — 1.2 million UAH per system. The Social Protection Fund for Persons with Disabilities will cover the cost of external prostheses, components, individual fitting, manufacture, trialling and ongoing maintenance.

Follow-up care does not end upon discharge. Follow-up examinations are scheduled after six weeks, three, six and twelve months. After three, six and twelve months, doctors will assess the patient’s functional abilities, quality of life and mental health, and after one year they will carry out a bone densitometry scan to check bone density.

Why this is important

For some people with complex amputations, a standard socket becomes the main barrier to using a prosthesis. Direct attachment to the bone can improve mobility and comfort, but is not suitable for everyone. The Ministry of Health specifically warns of the risk of infectious complications and the need for careful patient selection and long-term monitoring.

According to Ministry of Health figures as of April 2026, 101 operations using osseointegration have already been carried out in Ukraine; almost half of these were high femoral amputations. The first three such operations were carried out in May 2023 at a private clinic with the involvement of foreign specialists.

For patients, the main practical implication is this: the state covers not only the cost of the implant itself, but also the operation, inpatient rehabilitation and the external prosthesis. However, this is not a universal, automatic benefit for all people with amputations — they must first prove that conventional prosthetic methods are unsuitable and undergo a medical assessment. The project is experimental and is scheduled to run for two years.

Source

Official statement by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine on the Cabinet of Ministers’ website dated 8 September 2026: ‘Patients with complex amputations will be able to receive osseointegrated prosthetics at the state’s expense’.

The current procedure for the provision of specialised care using the osseointegrated prosthetics method was approved by Ministry of Health Order No. 873 of 26 May 2025: the text is available in the Verkhovna Rada’s legislation database. Background to the programme’s development: Ministry of Health announcement dated 6 April 2026.