Ministry of Health: 81% of healthcare institutions operate in the de-occupied territory of Kherson region

As of 30 January 2023, 27 healthcare institutions were destroyed in the Kherson oblast: 1 hospital, 7 outpatient clinics and 19 paramedic and midwifery centers. 77 institutions were damaged: 21 institutions that provide medical care, 17 outpatient clinics, 36 paramedic and midwifery centers and 3 other medical institutions. Currently, out of 163 medical institutions in the de-occupied territory of Kherson oblast, 132 (81%) work.

The regional territorial center for emergency medical care and disaster medicine in Kherson oblast has resumed full operation: now there are 3 stations, 7 substations and 8 bases of this institution. Every day, from 30 to 32 emergency medical teams work in the region. The region has 62 ambulances (17 type C cars (emergency ambulance cars) and 45 type B cars). Kherson region received 24 of them recently: 

• 18 cars with a total cost of more than UAH 27 million were distributed by the Ministry of Health (14 have already been received);
• 1 off-road vehicle of disaster medicine for rapid evacuation of the population from remote areas was provided by the Ukrainian scientific and practical center for emergency medical care and disaster medicine of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine;
• 5 new ambulances equipped with modern medical equipment were received from the global initiative UNITED24 (1 emergency ambulance car), the Olena Zelenska Foundation (1 emergency ambulance car) and Epicentr K LLC (3 emergency ambulance cars).

Emergency medical teams of the Ukrainian Center of Disaster Medicine, as well as teams from Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Ternopil, Cherkasy, Volyn and other regions of Ukraine are constantly involved in working in healthcare institutions in the de-occupied part of the oblast. They provide medical assistance to residents of villages and towns in the de-occupied territory of Kherson oblast, including examining patients with limited mobility at home and providing humanitarian aid in the form of medicines and medical devices. With the assistance of emergency medical care, representatives of the international organization “Doctors Without Borders”, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other volunteer organizations, medical evacuation of patients to other regions of Ukraine is carried out.

Visits to the settlements of the de-occupied part of Kherson oblast are also carried out by teams of narrow-profile specialists of the project “Medical Landing” of the “Kolo” Charity Foundation, the Ukrainian-Israeli mission of volunteer doctors “Frida-Ukraine”, the international organization “Doctors Without Borders”.

In addition, de-occupied settlements receive modular outpatient medical care points, where local residents can get an appointment with a doctor. 6 such modular outpatient centers were delivered by the international organization “Doctors Without Borders”, 1 (for the work of emergency medical teams) – by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. With the assistance of the non-governmental organization “STEP-IN” two modular points equipped with the necessary equipment were delivered to one of the institutions of Kherson. One is designed to help people with acute injuries of the musculoskeletal system, the other is designed for delivery. 

At the expense of the state budget and humanitarian revenues, more than 100 generators of various capacities were delivered to healthcare institutions in Kherson oblast to provide backup power, 55 Starlink systems were distributed for stable internet communication.

After the de-occupation of the right-bank part of Kherson oblast, more than 300 pallets with the necessary medical humanitarian aid were delivered to Kherson. Supplies included essential medicines, including antibiotics, antiviral, painkillers, as well as antihistamines, hypoglycemic, oncological and medicines for cardiovascular diseases; medical equipment: oxygen concentrators, ultrasound machines, patient monitors; personal protective equipment; surgical kits; gynecological kits; diapers and baby care kits, etc.

The provision of expensive equipment to health care institutions in the de-occupied territory continues, both at the expense of the state budget and due to humanitarian revenues. Thus, during the period of de-occupation, more than 148 pieces of equipment were delivered to the oblast, in particular according to the distribution of the Ministry of Health (modern artificial ventilation devices, 5 low-temperature refrigerators, 2 pharmaceutical refrigerators with a volume of 1500 liters, 10 certified refrigerators for storing medicines, 15 patient monitors, 5 anesthesia and respiratory stations, 3 mobile X-ray machines, 2 stationary X-ray machines, 5 devices for conducting ultrasound examinations, vacuum devices for wound treatment, electrocardiographs, etc.).

Vehicles were also distributed to Kherson oblast as humanitarian aid:

• 2 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cars (delivered to Kherson);
• 2 fully equipped Toyota Land Cruiser ambulances. 

In January, pallets of various types of insulin preparations provided as humanitarian aid by a separate division of Intersos, a humanitarian non-profit organization in Ukraine, were delivered to three city hospitals in Kherson.

In the de-occupied part of Kherson oblast, supply chains of medicines and medical devices to the pharmacy chain are gradually being restored. As of 1 February 2023, 40 pharmacies operate in the Kherson region. In 17 of them, patients can receive medicines free of charge or with a surcharge on prescription under the Affordable Medicines program.