Home

Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine, speaks about the main healthcare risks Ukraine may face during current winter in exclusive interview to Interfax-Ukraine

Text : Anna Levchenko

How do you assess the situation of the healthcare system today? What are the main changes after 3 years of war? What are the main changes now compared to the pre-war period?

What we can observe overall, regarding the system's functioning in the country, is that it became more resistant, largely due to the continuous reform of health, which started during the war in 2016. The national healthcare system is working, adjusting the numerous challenges, and, in a few areas, also gaining some better results than before. There is no doubt that at the same time, the system faces big challenges especially on the frontline dedicated to 10 years of war, daily attacks on health, shortage of personnel, and many others I will mention further.

During 1000 days of war, WHO has verified 2,147 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine that took the lives of at least 197 health workers and patients, and injuries to 676 health workers and patients. More than 40% of attacks are directed to primary care, which is the patient’s gateway to the rest of the health system, including referrals to specialist care and prescriptions for medicines in the Affordable Medicines program (AMP).

With growing health needs, two areas require more attention. First is the all-Ukrainian mental health program initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. The second is rehabilitation for injured patients and those who postponed their chronic care, like stroke patients.

Also, we are entering the winter season, which is predicted to be the harshest winter if attacks on