These days one of the main topics in the Ukrainian media was a regular meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee of member countries of the European Union, which approved a start of negotiations on the elimination of visas with Ukraine. According Ukrinskaya Pravda, all political obstacles have been removed and some procedures should be finished to introduce a visa-free regime for Ukraine. However, not all of them are purely formal. Now, Ukraine will have to wait for the EU to agree on who will be responsible for the suspension of visa-free regime in the case of migration threats from the country which signed the treaty. It is from this decision is the date of introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraine. It is predicted that this will happen in February-May 2017.
The Ministry of culture of Ukraine has proposed to hold a Year of Japan in Ukraine in 2017. Among the planned events are organization of joint concerts, exhibition of Japanese art and a symbolic planting of sakura trees. In order to discuss the Year of Japan in Ukraine, the Ministry held a meeting with the ambassador of Japan in Ukraine, Shigeki Sumi.
On November, 17 an interagency Strategic forum “Reform of medicine: funding, management, primary medical care” was held in Ukraine. The participants discussed a plan of reforms in the health sector. An introduction of insurance medicine became one of its important stages. For this, it is planned to create the National health service, abolish affiliation of the patients with a place of residence and to develop a package of guaranteedly paid services. It will include services for early diagnosis of diseases, treatment and specialty referral. In the second half of 2017, the National health service will pay this guaranteed free package of services to be provided by family doctors, polyclinics and dispensaries. In 2017, the government plans to allocate 62 billion hryvnas for health care (2.4 billion USD).
Resources: Eurointegration.com, Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Ministry of Health of Ukraine
