It has been possible to eliminate the most problematic provisions and clarify key issues related to the granting of PWZs, which is expected to directly translate into patient safety, the Supreme Medical Council reports.
Important changes in rules for granting PWZ to foreign doctors
Published Sept. 17, 2025 07:52
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Taking into account the substantive and legislative comments made by the medical self-government on successive versions of the government draft law on amending certain laws to verify the right to family benefits for foreigners and on the conditions for assistance to citizens of Ukraine offers a real chance to put the regulations on PWZ in order. The solutions proposed by the NRL are intended to ensure that patients receive the right level of medical care, regardless of the country of origin of the doctor.
Thanks to the determination of the Supreme Medical Council:
- Gone are the provisions allowing successive applications for PWZs based on the same decision of the Minister of Health, which would lead to a "do-or-die" procedure;
- clarified the six-month deadline for submitting an application to the district medical council, which is calculated from the date of the Health Minister's decision, rather than the date of its delivery;
- Mandatory denial of PWZs after the deadline is guaranteed, which puts the system in order and eliminates abuse;
- Corrected erroneous entries regarding the authority competent to receive and process PWZ applications, clearly indicating the district medical council.
The above changes are, in the opinion of the Medical Council, a significant achievement. It has managed to put the key issues in order and eliminate the most problematic solutions. However, as the Presidium of the NRL stresses, one step is still missing for full success. The self-government has consistently demanded the repeal of the regulations allowing the obtaining of PWZs in a simplified procedure based on a decision by the Minister of Health.
- The measures taken are primarily aimed at defending the life and health of patients. It is they who must be guaranteed the right to medical services of the highest quality, performed by appropriately qualified specialists. There is no room for compromise in this matter - the good of patients always remains the supreme value," stresses the Presidium of the Supreme Medical Council.
At the same time, the self-government is critical of the practice of making changes to the Law on the Profession of Physician and Dentist under the abbreviated legislative path, i.e. without public consultations and in a fast-track parliamentary procedure.
Source: NIL
