How to Reissue a Medical Practice License

In the healthcare sector, complying with licensing requirements is essential for continuous and lawful operations. The Ministry of Health of Ukraine issues a medical license for an indefinite period, but in some cases, the license may need to be renewed or reissued. In such situations, it’s crucial to act promptly and accurately.

Why is timing so important? The law sets strict deadlines for submitting documents to renew a medical license. Even a few days of delay can result in its cancellation. We often see such situations in practice, and for medical businesses, the consequences are serious: forced suspension of patient services, financial losses, and the risk of losing your client base.

Our law firm specializes in supporting medical institutions and practitioners, with in-depth knowledge of the Ministry of Health’s requirements. Drawing on our practical experience, we’ve prepared this article to help you understand how to act correctly and on time.

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Who Needs to Renew a Medical License and When?

Renewal of a medical license is the procedure of making changes to the license due to a change in the license holder. The only case in which the Ministry of Health renews a medical practice license is when the right to carry out medical activities passes from one individual entrepreneur to another individual through inheritance. 

Therefore, only the individual who inherits a medical practice has the right to continue its activities under the existing license.

This situation is regulated by Part 7 of Article 15 of the Law of Ukraine “On Licensing of Types of Economic Activities” and applies exclusively to individual entrepreneurs.

How it works:

• If a licensed individual entrepreneur passes away, their heir (also an individual) may obtain the right to continue activities under that license.
• To do so, the heir must submit an application to the Ministry of Health for license renewal within 30 calendar days from the moment this right is acquired.
• The heir must meet the requirements of the Licensing Conditions — namely, having the appropriate education, qualifications, and the necessary material and technical resources to carry out medical practice.

Example:

A private family doctor was practicing as an individual entrepreneur (FOP) in his own office. After his death, his son, who also has a medical degree and experience, inherited the office and equipment. To legally continue seeing patients without obtaining a new license from scratch, he submits an application to the Ministry of Health to have the license reissued in his name.

Can a legal entity renew a medical license?

No. The legislation does not provide for the renewal of a license in the case of a change of legal entity. In other words, if a medical practice was carried out by a legal entity (for example, an LLC) and the owner changes or reorganization takes place, the documents can be submitted to update the licensing file, but not to renew the existing license.

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How Does the License Renewal Procedure Work?

The procedure for renewing a medical practice license when the right is transferred from one individual entrepreneur to another (the heir) consists of three main stages:

1. Document preparation. The heir prepares and submits an application for license renewal to the Ministry of Health using the established form (Appendix 4 to the Licensing Conditions). The application must be accompanied by:

• Certified copies of documents provided by the heir confirming the grounds for renewal;
• Information on the material and technical base, as well as details of the staff, including their educational background and qualifications.

2. Submission of documents. The completed package of documents may be submitted in one of the following ways:

• in person;
• by mail with an inventory of enclosures.

3. Review and decision by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry reviews the documents and verifies the heir’s compliance with the requirements. If the package is complete and properly prepared, a decision is made to renew the license, the updated information is entered into the licensing register, and you can receive an extract with the updated details.

If discrepancies or errors are found, the application is rejected with a list of reasons, and the procedure must be repeated.

What are the deadlines for license renewal?

• Document submission: within 30 calendar days from the date the heir acquires the right to practice medicine.
• Review by the Ministry of Health: up to 10 business days from the moment a complete document package is received.

What are the risks of not renewing the license on time?

1. License cancellation and the need to obtain a new one from scratch.
2. Suspension of medical practice until a new license is issued.
3. Financial losses due to the inability to treat patients.
4. Loss of client base and reputational risks.

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Legal Support for Renewing a Medical License for Individual Entrepreneurs

Our law firm has extensive experience assisting doctors and medical institutions, including support with renewing medical licenses or individual entrepreneurs in the shortest possible time. We understand that urgency in this matter is critical, as every day of delay can cost your practice dearly.

Our specialists work to ensure that you can continue your practice without interruptions and without worrying about bureaucracy. We:

• analyze your situation and determine the optimal course of action;
• prepare and review the document package to avoid rejections from the Ministry of Health;
• support you throughout the process until you receive the extract with updated data;
• provide consultations on maintaining your license.

We make the complex simple: saving you time, minimizing risks, and helping you preserve your income and continue seeing patients.

Contact our legal team to ensure your license renewal is completed quickly and without any breaks in your practice.