Finance Ministry reports on spending from COVID-19 Relief Fund

Ukraine's Finance Ministry says UAH 34.1 billion (US$1.2 billion) was spent from the COVID-19 relief fund worth UAH 66 billion (US$2.3 billion) as of October 23, which accounted for 52% of the total.

"Some UAH 5.8 billion [US$204.4 million] out of UAH 16.3 billion [US$574.6 million], or 35%, was spent for healthcare. In particular, UAH 21 million [US$740,219] was spent for purchasing ventilators (out of UAH 100 million [US$3.5 million] allocated). Also, UAH 624 million [US$22 million] out of UAH 2.9 billion [US$102.2 million] was allocated for the Health Ministry's laboratories [equipment provision] and PPE purchase for medics," the ministry's press service said on its website on October 27.

Moreover, UAH 571 million [US$20.1 million] in subventions was channeled into the local budgets to provide hospitals with oxygen. Also, UAH 2.7 billion [US$95.2 million] out of the envisaged UAH 6 billion [US$211.5 million] was spent to boost allowances and surcharges for medics. The funds allocated for purchases of equipment for the base hospitals' admission departments have not been used yet.

In addition, spending for social protection totaled UAH 9.3 billion, or US$327.8 million, (89%) out of UAH 10.4 billion, or US$366.6 million, while UAH 2.4 billion, or US$84.6 million, (91%) out of UAH 2.7 billion, or US$95.2 million, was spent to ensure law and order.

What is more, UAH 16.3 billion (US$574.6 million) which accounted for 47% of UAH 35 billion (US$1.2 billion) envisaged was spent for road construction and repairs.

Read alsoOver 28,000 vials with remdesivir purchased – health ministrySome UAH 1 billion (US$35.2 million) is provided for state support in the sphere of culture, tourism, and creative industries, of which a mere UAH 6 million (US$211,491) has been utilized so far.

Also, UAH 524 million (US$18.5 million) has been provided for recovery of expenses that were cut when creating the fund, of which UAH 165 million (US$5.8 million), accounting for 31%, has been used for the time being.

COVID-19 Relief Fund: Background

On April 13, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, passed amendments to the law on the 2020 national budget, according to which a special fund worth UAH 64.7 billion (US$2.3 billion) was created.

Earlier, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov said no coronavirus relief fund was envisaged in the 2021 national budget draft.