Jurij Poljatschenko

Date of Birth: 20.02.1963

Place of Birth. Education. Born in Kyiv into a family of construction workers. His father - Vladimir Poljatschenko - was the honorary president of the holding company Kyivgorsstroj (the market leader in residential construction in the capital). In school, Poljatschenko attended classes with Dmitrij Tabachnik, the former Minister of Education and Science. In 1986, he graduated from Kyiv Medical University with a degree in medicine. In 1996, he obtained the title of Doctor of Medical Sciences. In 2002, he defended his dissertation in the field of 'Traumatology and Orthopedics.'

Career. After graduating from medical university, he worked as a research associate at the Kyiv Institute of Orthopedics (until 1994). Later, he was the deputy chief physician of the medical part of the Kyivgorsstroj corporation, director of the International Medical Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Cuba, and chief physician of the medical part of Kyivgorsstroj.

Political Career. Since March 1999, he has held leadership positions in the Ministry of Health. He was deputy minister, first deputy secretary of state, secretary of state, and first deputy minister.

On October 11, 2005, Poljatschenko first took office as Minister of Health (in the government of Jurij Jechanurov) from the position of advisor to President Viktor Yushchenko. He retained his ministerial position in the new government (under Viktor Yanukovych): in August 2006, he was appointed by Parliament due to the quota system of the political party 'Our Ukraine.'

As Minister of Health, Poljatschenko emphasized that healthcare today is the only sector that 'occupies a non-market position in the market economy of Ukraine.' He admitted that there is a serious problem in combating tuberculosis and HIV epidemics. He considered criticism of the interruption of loans provided by the World Bank to solve this problem justified. He noted that it has not yet been possible to overcome corruption in the approval system of the Ministry of Health and that the ministry is unable to control the quality of medical care in private institutions on-site. Poljatschenko was an advocate for the 'national health system of Ukraine,' whose main principle is 'budgetary health insurance.' At the same time, he believed that in relationships like 'insurance representative - patient - doctor,' a state medical inspection should be established to control the work of state and private medical institutions, especially in the interests of patients. He supported the adoption of the Medical Code and the Code of Medical Ethics, as well as the introduction of clear medical standards.

Poljatschenko's work as Minister of Health differed from that of his predecessor Mykola Polishchuk by less radical and scandalous decisions and innovations (such as the mandatory work of graduates of medical universities in rural areas or the distribution of medications restricted to prescriptions only). Although the minister himself promised that 'scandals' (i.e., respectful decisions) would occur, as this requires reforming the healthcare system.

In autumn 2006, Our Ukraine decided to withdraw from the government due to the inability to form a broad coalition with the Party of Regions without the Communists. Poljatschenko and other colleagues submitted their resignations. However, he later surprisingly decided to withdraw that resignation, stating that he did not accept Our Ukraine's transition to the opposition and that he wanted to continue his work as minister, as he believed he would be more useful to society in that role than in big politics. Nevertheless, he was dismissed on March 23, 2007. According to Prime Minister Yanukovych, Poljatschenko submitted his resignation at his own request due to a planned takeover of the position of director of the Institute of Surgery and Transplantology at the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine named after Alexander Shalimov. On the same day, the parliamentary majority agreed to appoint Jurij Gajdajew as Minister of Health, who had previously served as deputy minister.

From January 2013, he was a deputy of the Ukrainian parliament of the VII Congress of the Party of Regions (No. 76 on the list). Non-partisan. At the time of his election, he was the director of the National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology Shalimova.

On January 16, 2014, he voted for the 'dictatorial laws' - a package of undemocratic laws that significantly limited the rights of citizens and freedom of speech. Later, he was legally prohibited from leading major educational institutions.

On February 22, 2014, he withdrew from the faction of the Party of Regions.

Titles and Awards. Poljatschenko is a distinguished physician of Ukraine. He was awarded the Order 'For Merit' of the III degree.

17.02.2022