The number of bureaus of forensic medical examination where repatriated and unidentified bodies were examined in 2024 increased from 5 to 19
Updating the technical condition of the regional bureaus of forensic examinations and training of forensic experts are the key priorities for the development of the bureau of forensic examinations for 2025. Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin emphasized this during an interagency conference “Discussion and Implementation of Effective Solutions to Improve the Process of Identification of Bodies (Remains)” with representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Leonid Tymchenko, Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances Artur Dobroserdov and specialists from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
“Since the beginning of the war, the need for forensic experts and centers where they conduct relevant examinations has been growing critically, especially in the frontline regions. In order to speed up the identification process and involve as many experts from different regions as possible in conducting examinations, the Ministry of Health initiated the reorganization of regional bureaus of forensic medicine into a single centralized network of institutions under the Ministry of Health. By the end of 2024, this allowed increasing the number of bureaus conducting examinations from 5 to 19. Currently, the efforts of the Ministry of Health and the Main Bureau of the forensic medical examinations are focused on updating the technical condition of the bureaus and training specialists.”
Until 2023, the regional bureaus of forensic medical examination, which were mostly funded by the Ministry of Health, belonged to the sphere of regional governance and were dependent on additional funding provided by local authorities. This made it impossible to effectively manage the process of body identification, including conducting examinations in several areas simultaneously and balancing the workload of individual bureaus. Therefore, the Ministry of Health has begun the process of reorganizing the regional bureaus of forensic medical examinations. Currently, 23 regional bureaus of forensic medical examination have been transferred to the Ministry of Health. In Zaporizhzhia and Cherkasy oblasts, reorganization of the regional bureaus of forensic medical examinations is at its final stage.
In 2024, the regional bureaus of forensic medical examinations received more than 100 units of laboratory equipment for forensic examination from the Ministry of Health, which was purchased by Medical Procurement of Ukraine. The equipment was delivered to the regional bureaus of forensic medical examinations in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipro and Chernihiv oblasts.
In addition, interns studying to become forensic doctors will be trained at regional forensic bureaus. The training will include practical training under international standards, familiarization with modern methods of conducting examinations, documenting and working with modern high-precision laboratory equipment. This year, 44 vacancies have been opened for interns in the regions in the specialty of forensic medicine. The training will last two years.