Ukraine’s healthcare system is facing many challenges. After three years of war, doctors, nurses, and hospitals continue to adapt to difficult conditions. Constant attacks, lack of staff, and rising disease risks make it hard for people to get the care they need. Still, the system remains strong and continues to serve the people.
A Doctor’s Day in Ukraine
Dr. Lesia Lysytsia works at Okhmatdyt, Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital. On July 8, 2023, she was preparing for surgery on a young patient when sirens rang out. They warned of a possible Russian airstrike. Despite the danger, Dr. Lysytsia kept working. Stopping for every alarm would delay treatment for children who traveled from across the country. She had another worry too—getting home on time for her two young children.
Not long after, a missile hit the hospital. It killed three people and injured dozens. This attack was part of a much larger missile strike that day. Despite this, Okhmatdyt reopened just a week later. “We changed mentally,” Dr. Lysytsia said, “but we have a goal. We are responsible for others, so we don’t show it.”
Ukraine’s Healthcare in Crisis
Ukraine’s healthcare system was not ready for the chaos caused by Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Millions of people fled the country. The UN says over 10 million Ukrainians have left since the war started.
Eric Adrien, who manages medical evacuations for the European Commission, said, “No healthcare system in the world is built for full-scale war.” Yet, doctors and nurses have adapted. They perform amputations, treat patients without electricity, and continue to work despite the constant threat of attack.
In Europe, healthcare systems are increasingly concerned about the impact of the war on the broader region, especially with many Ukrainian refugees seeking medical care. In 2017, Ukraine made changes to its healthcare system. These reforms helped modernize the system and reduce corruption. Despite this, the war has made healthcare harder to access, especially in areas near the frontlines. Doctors and aid workers say they see more disease, antibiotic resistance, and serious shortages of staff.
Dr. Tankred Stöbe, an emergency doctor with Doctors Without Borders, said, “When you travel from Lviv to Kyiv, it seems like the country is used to war. But it’s not the same in the east. The outlook is more bleak than hopeful.”
Attacks on Hospitals
Since the war began, Russian forces have attacked healthcare centers more than 1,760 times. Human rights groups say this may be a war crime. The attacks have made it harder for Ukrainians to receive care. Hospitals, clinics, and ambulances have all been targets. The WHO says the attacks are even more frequent than reported.
These attacks also affect the country’s ability to provide medical services. Since the missile strike on Okhmatdyt, 41 more healthcare facilities have been hit. In January 2024 alone, two centers were destroyed, and 22 others were damaged.
Just last week, a missile hit a children’s clinic in Odesa. Inna Ivanenko, director of Patients of Ukraine, said, “It was one of the best in the country. And just in one night, we lost it.”
These attacks have caused millions of people to lose access to healthcare. A survey by the Kyiv School of Economics and the University of Oxford found that 16% of Ukrainian households cannot reach healthcare due to destroyed hospitals or missing staff.
Rising Disease Risks
Ukraine’s healthcare system also faces new challenges. Diseases like tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and respiratory illnesses are on the rise. Chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are also growing concerns.
TB, which has been a problem in Ukraine for years, worsened after the war started. Ukraine is now one of 30 countries with high levels of drug-resistant TB. This makes it harder to treat patients.
Dr. Stöbe said, “These diseases are spreading unnoticed. And no one seems to care.”
HIV prevention is also being impacted by the war. Factors like displacement, drug use, and sex work increase the risk of new infections. Data from occupied areas is difficult to obtain, which makes it harder to understand the full scope of the problem.
Healthcare Worker Shortages
The war has caused a major shortage of healthcare workers. Many doctors, nurses, and medical staff have died, fled, or joined the military. At least 262 healthcare workers have been killed in the war.
In cities like Kyiv, there are enough doctors. However, finding specialists is difficult. Areas near the frontlines have very few healthcare workers. Dr. Stöbe said, “What’s missing is the human factor. We need specialists willing to work near the warzone.”
The nursing shortage is also severe. Before the war, Ukraine had fewer nurses than many other countries. Now, the situation is even worse. Many nurses have left for jobs abroad. The number of nurses in Ukraine is half of what it is in the European Union.
Despite all these challenges, Ukraine’s healthcare system continues to function. International support has helped keep the system running. “There are many problems,” said Ivanenko. “But the system has survived. That proves its foundation is strong.”
However, the future of healthcare in Ukraine is still uncertain. The war is not over, and the country faces many obstacles. But doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers are doing everything they can to provide care under these harsh conditions.
For more updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit Euro News 24.