In Odesa, patients suffering from rare (orphan) diseases receive essential medications and therapeutic nutrition at no cost, thanks to the city’s Health Target Program, which has been in effect for several years.
For 2025, the city budget allocates 26.8 million UAH for providing medications to patients with orphan diseases. This support from the local government significantly enhances the quality of life for these patients, preventing severe complications and reducing the financial burden on families.
Notably, within the framework of the Health Program, 21 patients with phenylketonuria (12 children and 9 adults) have been provided with special dietary mixtures. This ensures that those unable to consume regular food receive complete nutrition with adequate protein content during critical growth periods, preserving their physical and mental health. Continuous supply of therapeutic nutrition helps prevent complications related to the nervous system and other organs in older age.
Regarding patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, in the first nine months of this year, 60 children and 50 adults were provided with biological medications purchased with state budget funds. Additionally, within the Health Program, three adult patients received expensive biological drugs funded by the city budget, which are not covered by the state budget.
The provision of biological medications has improved the well-being of the patients, alleviating pain and enhancing the quality of life for both children and adults, allowing them to lead socially active lives, participate in dance groups, sports teams, and more.
During the first nine months of 2025, 175 patients with other orphan diseases were supplied with medications, including 132 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, 29 with psoriatic arthropathy, as well as patients with acromegaly, Takayasu disease, giant cell arteritis, hereditary angioedema, systemic sclerosis, Behçet's disease, ichthyosiform erythroderma, and others.
For many years, children with hemophilia in Odesa have been provided with essential blood clotting factor medications free of charge through the city budget due to the lack of centralized supply as mandated by law. This has prevented severe bleeding episodes and the need for urgent hospitalization. In the current year, 11 children with hemophilia are receiving replacement therapy with clotting factors purchased with state budget funds.
Timely and accessible treatment has significantly improved the quality of life for patients with orphan diseases, allowing them to live fulfilling lives and halt the progression of disability.
