Presidential decree 483/2024 of July 26, 2024 

Sponsor: the President of Ukraine 

Status: in effect since July 26, 2024 

Who is affected: the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, healthcare establishments in rural areas, and medical personnel 

Summary: 

  • the President ordered the Cabinet of Ministers to: 
    • encourage medical workers to work in rural hospitals 
    • compensate medical personnel who relocate for work for housing purchase, prioritizing filling vacancies in villages 
    • ensure the delivery of medications by postal operators, including under the Affordable Medicines [Dostupni liky] program 
    • introduce incentives for utilizing existing (including medical and pharmaceutical) infrastructure 
    • expand the network of pharmacies and primary healthcare centers providing specialized medications for palliative patients and other patients with serious illnesses. The number of such patients is increasing due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine 
  • the President also ordered oblast state (military) administrations to enter into regional contracts with higher education establishments to arrange training of medical personnel (to allocate money to state-funded education for students of medical specialties at universities). 

What is right: the decree is expected to improve access to medical care and medications in rural areas.  

What is wrong: 

  • the decree violates the Constitution. The President cannot give orders to either the Cabinet or other central executive bodies, or law enforcement agencies. The powers granted to the President are defined by the Constitution, so he can only issue decrees that are within his or her mandate 
  • the bill violates the balance of powers: the President intrudes into areas outside his authority. 

Alternative solution: this presidential decree is already in effect, and it is impossible to amend it. 

While monitoring decisions made by authorities, the Centre for United Actions has repeatedly pointed out that the President issues decrees concerning jurisdictions that do not fall under his authority. The only way out of this situation is to cease this practice.