The peculiarities of primary healthcare at the vulnerable areas of Ukraine

Albina Zharkova

Keywords: primary healthcare, Ukraine, vulnerable population, mobile clinics, evacuation

Background:

Since the beginning of the 2022 the healthcare system in Ukraine has faced the terrible challenge. However, the main framework of the system stands, despite of new difficulties. The situation depends on the geographical area: the territories, which are close to the frontline, certainly are suffering the most.

Research questions:

To detect the major problems for the primary healthcare at the areas, close to the frontline. To find out the existing solutions and assess their efficacy.

Method:

Observation of the situation with existing data from the actors working at the areas (governmental and nongovernmental organizations). Interviews with patients, who has been living at the areas less than 30 km from the frontline and had experienced the needs for the medical care in the meantime.

Results:

During the war time the need for primary care increases (limited access to the medical care, to the pharmaceutical products, to the healthy food and hygiene, stress-related exacerbations of noncommunicable diseases, complications of the chronic pathologies, etc). The capacity of the primary healthcare decreases (migration processes, destruction of the facilities, damage of the equipment etc). The important role is played by nongovernmental organizations as the temporary healthcare providers with humanitarian aid opportunities (free distribution of food, hygiene kits, basic medications). The special need is evacuation of the low-mobility and vulnerable population, which also covered by international and national humanitarian organizations with support of governmental healthcare system. However, there are another obstacles, such as arrangement of the specialized facilities for the low-mobility people or mental barriers for displacement among the patients and their relatives.

Conclusions:

There is the significant impact of the war conflict on the primary healthcare.
The temporary solutions might be suggested by the different actors, including nongovernmental organizations.
For the vulnerable population the proper arranged medical evacuation is very important.

Points for discussion:

The possible solutions for the primary healthcare at the vulnerable areas