Propagandists are attempting to discredit the Ukrainian healthcare system with claims that hospitals in Ukraine are ‘simply falling apart’ without anyone needing to do anything – just wait. However, they forgot to specify the number of hospitals destroyed by Russia.
With the support of the USAID Health Reform Support project, VoxCheck analyzes and refutes public health narratives spread in the information space of Ukraine, Belarus, and russia on a weekly basis.
Information is being spread online alleging that a hospital in Odesa “fell apart on its own,” supposedly indicating the poor performance of the Ukrainian healthcare system.
Screenshot of the post
What’s the reality?
This concerns the collapse of part of the wall of the circular, currently inactive building of the Odesa Infectious Diseases Hospital. The building has been out of operation for over 5 years due to its critical condition. Additionally, the former hospital premises are a monument of national architectural significance. Therefore, it is inappropriate to say that the “hospital just fell apart” because the building has not been functioning as a hospital for a long time.
Instead, Russian propagandists are silent about the damage inflicted on Ukraine as a result of aggression. According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, during almost two years of full-scale war, Russia damaged 1,501 medical facility objects and completely destroyed another 195. Moreover, since the beginning of the war, the Russian army damaged 103 emergency medical service vehicles, destroyed 253 automobiles, and seized 125 emergency vehicles.
Source: Ministry of Health of Ukraine
As of the beginning of January 2024, 474 medical facilities have been fully restored, while 383 are in the process of restoration. In particular, the highest number of restored medical institutions are in Mykolaiv Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Kyiv Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, and Chernihiv Oblast.
In the most war-affected regions, where the constant shelling and attacks by the Russian army have significantly damaged or destroyed medical infrastructure, modular hospitals are being installed. These clinics are capable of serving as replacements for damaged facilities for up to 10 years.
Modular clinic in Kharkiv region. Source: Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Despite the war, the Ukrainian healthcare system is being reformed and developed. The state budget for 2024 includes expenditures on healthcare amounting to 202 billion UAH, compared to 178 billion UAH allocated this year (an increase of +8% accounting for inflation). “We are adding 16 billion UAH to the medical guarantees program. We are launching a pilot project for free dental prosthetics for veterans. 1 billion UAH is allocated for shelters and safe conditions in hospitals. We continue to make healthcare more accessible and qualitative, regardless of where people live,” said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
This information piece was produced with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided on behalf of the people of the United States of America. This article’s content, which does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government, is the sole responsibility of Deloitte Consulting under contract #72012118C00001.
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