Healthcare and medical insurance in Kyiv: a guide for foreigners
How to get emergency care, see a doctor and buy medicine.
What happens if you get sick while visiting Kyiv? Whether you’re planning a trip or already in the city, this guide explains how to access healthcare, use your travel insurance, find an English-speaking doctor, and buy medicine in Ukraine.
Call 103 for an ambulance or 112 for emergency services, where you can ask for assistance in English. In a life-threatening emergency, call for help first and contact your insurer afterwards.
What to check before travelling to Kyiv
A little preparation can make things much easier if you need medical care during your stay.
- Entry requirements. These depend on your nationality, the purpose of your visit and how long you’re staying. Start with our guide to entering Ukraine and check any requirements specific to your circumstances with a Ukrainian consulate.
- Travel insurance. Make sure your policy covers you in Ukraine for your entire stay. Pay particular attention to exclusions related to the war.
- Insurance contact details. Save your policy number and the contact details for your insurer’s emergency assistance service.
- Regular medication. Bring enough of any medication you take regularly, along with your prescription and details of the active ingredients and dosages. Check the rules on bringing your medication into Ukraine.
- Your accommodation address. Save it in Ukrainian, including your apartment or hotel room number. Keep the emergency numbers 103 and 112 handy.
It’s also worth keeping a note of any allergies, existing medical conditions and medication you take. Make sure you can access this information offline.
Do you need medical insurance to visit Ukraine?
If you need a visa to enter Ukraine, medical insurance is generally required as part of your application. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, your policy must provide at least €30,000 in coverage, or the equivalent in another currency. Some applicants are exempt.
If you’re travelling visa-free, check the requirements for your nationality and immigration status. Visa requirements don’t automatically apply to everyone entering Ukraine.
Even if insurance isn’t mandatory in your case, it’s worth having. Foreign visitors may have to pay for medical care, and hospital treatment can be expensive.
How to choose travel medical insurance for Ukraine
Before buying a policy, ask your insurer to confirm in writing that you’ll be covered during your trip to Kyiv. Give them your travel dates, itinerary and reason for visiting.
Here are five things to check:
- Medical expenses. Does the policy cover consultations, tests, hospital stays, prescription medication and medical transport?
- War-related risks. Are injuries caused by missile strikes or other acts of war covered? Some policies cover everyday illnesses but exclude war-related injuries.
- Pre-existing conditions. Will your insurance cover treatment if an existing medical condition gets worse during your trip?
- Excess or deductible. How much will you have to pay out of pocket?
- Medical repatriation. Does the policy cover transport back to your home country if it’s medically necessary?
Check whether your government’s travel advice affects your insurance, too. For example, the UK government warns that travelling against official advice could invalidate your travel insurance.
Your coverage limit is the maximum amount your insurer may pay. It doesn’t mean every medical expense will be covered. The treatment must meet the terms of your policy.
What to do if you get sick in Kyiv
If you’re feeling slightly unwell
You can buy over-the-counter medicine at a pharmacy without medical insurance. A pharmacist can help you find what you need and explain whether a prescription is required.
If your symptoms don’t improve, get worse or you’re unsure what treatment you need, see a doctor. A pharmacist can offer advice, but they can’t replace a medical consultation.
If you have travel insurance
Before booking a non-emergency appointment, contact the assistance service listed on your insurance policy. This is the team that helps arrange medical care under your policy.
Give them your policy number, your location and a brief description of your symptoms. Let them know which language you’re comfortable speaking.
Ask them:
- Which clinic you should go to and whether they’ll arrange the appointment.
- Whether you need approval before seeing a doctor or having tests.
- Whether they’ll pay the clinic directly or you’ll need to pay upfront and claim the money back.
- What documents you’ll need to make a claim.
Keep your case reference number and any written confirmation from your insurer.
If you’ve found a clinic yourself, check with your insurer before booking. A clinic may work with insurance companies without necessarily accepting your particular policy.
If you don’t have insurance
You can still see a doctor, including at a private clinic, but you’ll usually need to pay for the appointment yourself. Let the clinic know you’re visiting from abroad and will be paying directly.
Not sure which doctor to see? Briefly describe your symptoms to the receptionist and ask who would be best to book with.
For general medical concerns, a GP or a doctor specialising in internal medicine is usually a good place to start. In Ukraine, a doctor listed as a therapist (терапевт) treats general medical conditions — they’re not a psychotherapist.
If you have a life-threatening medical emergency, call 103 or 112 rather than waiting for an appointment.
What to bring to your appointment
Bring your passport or another form of ID accepted by the clinic, your insurance details if you have them, any relevant medical records and a list of medication you take.
After your appointment, ask for a written medical report and any prescriptions. If you need documents in English for your insurer or doctor back home, check with the clinic beforehand.
How to call an ambulance in Kyiv
You can use either of these numbers to get emergency medical help in Ukraine:
- 103 — the ambulance emergency number.
- 112 — the general emergency number. The operator can arrange an ambulance, police or fire and rescue services, depending on the situation. English-language assistance is available.
You don’t need to dial an area code.
If you don’t speak Ukrainian, you can start your call to 112 by saying: “English, please. I need an ambulance.”
Call immediately if someone is unconscious, struggling to breathe, bleeding heavily or showing other signs of a life-threatening emergency.
If you’re unsure whether an ambulance is needed, explain the symptoms to the dispatcher, who can advise you on what to do next.
What to tell the emergency operator
Try to provide:
- Your location. Give the city, street, building number, entrance, floor and apartment or hotel room number. If you’re outside, mention a nearby landmark.
- What happened. Briefly describe the symptoms or incident and how many people need help.
- The person’s condition. Say whether they’re conscious and breathing.
- Your contact details. Give your name and phone number.
Answer any follow-up questions and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Stay on the line until they tell you they have everything they need.
If you’re staying at a hotel, ask reception to help the ambulance crew find the right entrance.
What if you have no mobile signal?
If you can’t make a call, ask someone nearby or a member of your hotel staff to contact emergency services for you.
Ukraine also has an official app called 112 Ukraine, which allows users to contact emergency services over the internet. It needs to be installed and set up in advance. Before travelling, check whether you can register and use its features.
Don’t rely on the app as your only way to call for help: it won’t work without an internet connection.
For more information, read our guide to mobile internet and connectivity in Kyiv. You can also explore our list of useful apps for visitors.
How much does healthcare cost for foreigners in Kyiv?
Costs depend on where you receive treatment and what care you need. Consultations, tests, scans, procedures and hospital stays may all be charged separately.
Public hospitals
Under Ukrainian government resolution No. 121, foreigners staying in Ukraine temporarily generally have to pay for medical treatment. There are exceptions under Ukrainian law and international agreements.
Different rules may apply if you live in Ukraine permanently or qualify for healthcare under another legal category.
Emergency treatment isn’t necessarily free for foreign visitors. Depending on your circumstances, you may receive a bill for emergency medical care and medication, even if the initial cost was covered by public funds.
If someone’s life is in danger, don’t delay getting help because you’re worried about payment. Once you’ve received care, ask the hospital and your insurer how the costs will be handled.
Private clinics
Before booking, ask how much the consultation costs and what’s included. Tests, scans and other procedures may cost extra.
Check which payment methods the clinic accepts, and ask for an invoice and proof of payment. Our guide to currency and money in Kyiv explains how payments work in Ukraine.
What to keep for an insurance claim
If you’ve paid for treatment yourself and plan to claim the money back, keep:
- Your medical report and prescriptions
- An itemised invoice
- Proof of payment
- Pharmacy receipts for prescribed medication
Check with your insurer which documents they require and when you need to submit them.
How to find a private clinic in Kyiv
If you have insurance, start with the clinics recommended by your insurer.
If you’re paying yourself, look for a clinic in a convenient location and check its website for the right specialist, available appointments and branch addresses.
Before booking, ask:
- Whether the doctor speaks English or another language you’re comfortable with
- When the next appointment is available
- How much the consultation costs
- What documents you need to bring
- Whether any necessary tests can be done at that branch
Always confirm that your consultation can be held in your preferred language. If you’d rather contact the clinic in writing, you can use this message: “Hello, I’m visiting Kyiv and need to see an English-speaking doctor. Could you let me know your earliest available appointment, the consultation fee and what documents I should bring?”
Before heading to the clinic, check for any changes to its opening hours. If an air raid alert sounds while you’re there, follow the staff’s safety instructions. You can find more advice in our guide to air raid alerts in Kyiv.
Where to buy medicine in Kyiv
Look for signs saying «Аптека» (apteka) — the Ukrainian word for pharmacy.
Kyiv has several major pharmacy chains, including:
Their websites can help you find nearby branches, check opening hours and look up medicines.
If you’re looking for a specific medicine, have the name of its active ingredient, strength and form (such as tablets, capsules or a cream) ready. Brand names in Ukraine may differ from those in your home country.
If the exact medicine isn’t available, ask a doctor or pharmacist about alternatives. Don’t choose a substitute just because it has a similar name.
Can you reserve or order medicine online?
Some pharmacy chains let you reserve medicine online and collect it from a selected branch.
Wait for confirmation before going to the pharmacy, and check when you can collect your order and whether you need to bring any documents.
Reserving a medicine online doesn’t remove the need for a prescription. Delivery options also depend on the pharmacy, the medicine and your location.
How to buy prescription medicine in Ukraine
Some medicines, including antibiotics, are available only on prescription in Ukraine.
Depending on the medicine and current rules, prescriptions may be issued electronically or on paper.
For an electronic prescription, you’ll need the prescription number and a confirmation code. Ask your doctor how you’ll receive these details.
If you don’t have a Ukrainian phone number, let the doctor know and ask how you can get your prescription information.
Don’t assume a prescription from your home country will automatically be accepted at a Ukrainian pharmacy. You may need to see a doctor in Ukraine for a local prescription.
If you take regular medication, check availability and prescription requirements before your supply runs out.
Are there 24-hour pharmacies in Kyiv?
Yes. Some pharmacies in Kyiv advertise 24-hour opening.
For example, Apteka 9-1-1 lists pharmacies that operate around the clock, including Holovna Apteka Kyieva at 24 Lesi Ukrainky Boulevard.
However, a pharmacy being open 24/7 doesn’t mean you can travel there freely at night. Kyiv has a curfew that restricts movement around the city.
Before setting off, call the pharmacy to confirm it’s open to customers, has the medicine you need and can explain how night-time collection works.
Kyiv’s city authorities have also published a list of pharmacies designated to operate during prolonged power outages. These are special arrangements and shouldn’t be confused with regular 24-hour opening.
If you rely on essential medication, try to refill your supply before it runs low.
Getting medical help during curfew
Emergency services operate throughout the night. If you need urgent medical assistance, call 103 or 112 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Don’t wait until curfew ends.
Plan routine appointments and pharmacy visits around restrictions on movement. A doctor’s appointment or a pharmacy’s 24-hour opening hours don’t automatically permit you to travel during curfew.
Check the latest rules in our guide to curfew in Kyiv.
FAQ
If you’re applying for a Ukrainian visa, you generally need medical insurance with at least €30,000 in coverage, subject to certain exemptions. For visa-free visits, check the requirements for your nationality and immigration status.
Yes. You can book an appointment and pay for it yourself, including at a private clinic. Ask about the consultation fee and booking requirements in advance.
Call 103 or 112. If you don’t speak Ukrainian, you can request assistance in English when calling 112.
Foreign tourists may be charged for emergency medical services and treatment. If someone’s life is in danger, call for help immediately and deal with payment arrangements afterwards.
Antibiotics generally require a doctor’s prescription in Ukraine. Ask a doctor how to obtain one if you need treatment.
Some pharmacies advertise 24-hour opening. Check their availability before visiting and remember that curfew restrictions still apply.
