MEDICAL DEVICES FOR BLOOD GLUCOSE SELF-MONITORING: COMMODITY AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS

SUMMARY. The relevance of the study lies in the need for scientific substantiation of the effectiveness of the state reimbursement program for medical devices intended for self-monitoring of blood glucose levels under the conditions of healthcare system reform in Ukraine. The program aims to improve accessibility, quality of life, and pharmaceutical care for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The aim – to examine the commodity characteristics of test strips for self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and to analyze their economic accessibility within the framework of the “Available Medicines” state reimbursement program. Material and Methods. The research object comprised medical devices included in the reimbursement lists of the National Health Service of Ukraine for the period from August 2023 to March 2025. A comparative commodity analysis, content analysis of regulatory legal acts of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, and a retrospective analysis of data from NHSU analytical dashboards were conducted. Statistical and analytical methods, along with graphical data interpretation, were applied to summarize the research findings. Results. It has been established that test strips for blood glucose determination are single-use medical devices that are sensitive to external factors, thus requiring specific storage conditions (temperature 4–30 °C, relative humidity ≤65%). The packaging serves both protective and informational functions: the primary packaging is a hermetically sealed tube containing a desiccant; the secondary packaging consists of a cardboard box with labeling and instructions; and the transport packaging is a corrugated container. A retrospective analysis revealed an expansion in the range of medical devices subject to reimbursement – from 23 items in 2023 to 43 in 2024, along with an increase in the proportion of fully reimbursed products. According to the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU), there has been a growth in the number of redeemed e-prescriptions in 2025, indicating improved physical and financial accessibility of medical devices for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Conclusions. The conducted study confirmed that the expansion of the reimbursement program enhances the accessibility of test strips for blood glucose self-monitoring, contributes to improving patients’ quality of life, supports the prevention of complications, and promotes the rationalization of healthcare system expenditures. It is considered advisable to further improve the assortment policy and state reimbursement mechanisms, taking into account the needs of different age groups of patients.