Oleksii Iaremenko, from the Health Recovery Office at the Ministry of Health for Ukraine, believes that “digital health might just be the hand we are looking for.” At the Global Health Connector event during the UN Science Summit in New York on 26 September 2023, he presented the impact digital health can have on the future of Ukrainian healthcare landscape.
As of today, more than 1400 healthcare facilities have been damaged, 190 of them cannot be restored. Rapid damage assessment conducted by the World Bank and national authorities, showed that in the next 10 years the Ukrainian system will need 16.4 bln USD for recovery and reconstruction. This funding will not only aid in rebuilding infrastructure but will also support the expansion of healthcare services, including rehabilitation, mental health, and improved access to primary care.
Ukraine has made significant progress in digital health since the healthcare system reform in 2016, with a vision to create a unified medical information space that aligns with global standards. Today the Ukrainian Electronic Health System has over 35 million registered patients and more than 2 billion electronic records. A number of e-services is already implemented with new being developed and piloted. Telemedicine is emerging as a crucial tool in delivering critical services, especially in areas where infrastructure has been severely affected.
By forging international and national partnerships, Ukraine has the potential not only to rebuild its healthcare system but also lead the way of other nations to harness the power or digital health. To learn more about this transformative journey, watch the full recording of Oleksii Iaremenko’s insightful presentation.
