6 billion planned for Odesa healthcare development: who will receive new equipment and payments

The Odesa City Council has revised the Health program to allocate more than UAH 6 billion for the city's healthcare. The additional money will be used to equip hospitals, rehabilitation departments and support staff, but some of the spending on the military and prevention has been cut.

The decision was made at a session of the Odesa City Council.

The Odesa City Council has amended the city's target program "Health" for 2024-2028. The program envisages a wide range of measures to preserve the health of Odesa residents and the work of the medical system in times of war. It includes support for orphanages, medical care for the military, prevention of dangerous diseases, development of rehabilitation services and modernization of hospital equipment.

The changes concern funding for meals for children in specialized orphanages, which will be increased by UAH 1.49 million due to rising prices. In addition, the employees of these institutions will receive municipal surcharges of 2.5 thousand per month. These payments will be allocated 2.34 million in 2025 and 6.43 million annually from 2026 to 2028. In total, this item will increase by more than UAH 21.6 million in four years.

According to the decision, the cost of feeding wounded soldiers in city hospitals has been reduced by 4 million, as part of the funding is now taken over by the Ministry of Defense. The expenses for the work of military medical commissions were also reduced by 1.4 million, as the NHSU now pays for the examination services.

An additional UAH 1.04 million was allocated for ambulances due to rising fuel prices and vehicle repairs. These funds were taken from the program of medical care on beaches, where savings were made due to the late start of the holiday season.

Funding for HIV testing, harm reduction programs, and tuberculosis departments was cut by almost UAH 7 million in total. Instead, 110 thousand hryvnias were added for the purchase of tuberculin for most-at-risk children.

An additional UAH 31.3 million was allocated to equip rehabilitation departments in city hospitals No. 1, No. 5 and No. 11. This will allow to complete the renovation work and open new departments for patients.

The document also emphasized the urgent need to modernize medical equipment. For 2025, the estimated amount of funding has been increased by UAH 36.3 million to equip a number of institutions, including:

• Municipal Clinical Hospital No. 11;
• Children's City Clinical Hospital No. 3;
• Consultative and Diagnostic Center No. 20;
• Consultative and Diagnostic Center No. 29 and others.

As noted in the decision, this will provide the hospitals with modern equipment necessary for high-quality diagnosis and treatment. Taking into account all the changes, UAH 6.026 billion has been allocated to finance the program until 2028.

In May, the National Health Service of Ukraine transferred more than UAH 2.5 billion to medical institutions in Odesa Oblast that provide emergency, primary and specialized medical care under the medical guarantee program.

Анна Бальчінос