What does a family doctor do?
A family doctor treats and monitors adults and children, gives vaccinations, orders lab tests, prescribes medicines, issues sick leave and refers you to specialists when needed. They are the first doctor you turn to with any health question, and their care is free for patients with a declaration.
Why it helps to have your own family doctor
- Your doctor knows you over the years. A family doctor often looks after a patient for a long time and knows their health well.
- Doctors for the whole family. A family doctor sees both adults and children. At Viva Clinic, adults are looked after by internists and children by pediatricians, so the whole family can be treated at one clinic.
- Fewer unnecessary visits. You don’t have to go from one specialist to another at random to find out what’s wrong. Your family doctor will help you figure it out and refer you to the specialist you actually need to see. That saves both time and money.
What a family doctor’s job includes
The duties of a primary care doctor are defined by Ukraine’s Ministry of Health. These are the main ones.
Treatment and monitoring
- Provides primary medical care.
- Draws up a plan of tests and treatment and follows it through, reviews test results, and prescribes medicines and other treatment.
- Helps patients who need urgent care.
- When emergency care isn’t needed but specialized care is, refers you to a specialist or a highly specialized facility based on medical need.
- Coordinates your care with other levels of the healthcare system.
Prevention
- Gives vaccinations in line with the law.
- Carries out general and individual prevention of infectious diseases.
- Assesses your health risks and advises on how to lower them.
- Advises on a healthy lifestyle.
- Draws up a personal plan for your checkups and health monitoring.
- Tells you about national screening programs, such as Health Screening 40+.
Pregnancy and children
- Monitors uncomplicated pregnancies.
- Provides medical monitoring for healthy children.
Chronic conditions and special care
- Looks after patients with socially significant infectious diseases as required by law.
- Looks after patients with mental health conditions, taking into account a specialist’s recommendations.
- Provides palliative care: assesses and treats pain, and prescribes opioid and psychotropic medicines as permitted by law.
Tests, medicines and paperwork
- Organizes lab tests and collects samples for analysis.
- Performs lab tests, including rapid tests.
- Prescribes medicines and completes the required paperwork.
- Issues medical certificates, forms and sick leave certificates.
To get this care free of charge, you need a declaration: your registration with a primary care doctor under the National Health Service of Ukraine (NSZU). At Viva Clinic in Slavuta, you can sign one with one of our family doctors. For a step-by-step guide, read How to choose a family doctor.
