The work is like hell, the salary is a pittance: Crimea left without medicines and doctors

The situation with healthcare in Crimea has deteriorated: there is a shortage of more than a thousand healthcare workers, and people cannot receive medical care and medicines. Despite official reports on hospital staffing, hundreds of vacancies remain unfilled, especially in rural areas.

This was reported by Krym.Realii.

There is a chronic healthcare crisis in the annexed Crimea: there is a shortage of doctors, access to medicines is difficult, and patients cannot get to specialists for months. The journalists analyzed the report of the Russian-controlled ombudsman, who received dozens of complaints from Crimeans about the lack of medical care.

According to the data, at the end of 2024, there was a shortage of more than 1,400 medical workers in Crimea, from doctors to nurses. People cannot make an appointment, get tested, or receive free medicines, even with benefits. For example, in the outpatient clinic of the Semashko Hospital in Simferopol, an appointment with a gastroenterologist is open only until April 2026.

Crimean residents complain that the situation has only worsened since the outbreak of full-scale war: medical staff is leaving, salaries are low, and the workload is excessive. In comments to the official pages of officials, users write directly that "the work is like hell, and they pay a penny."

There are also problems with medicines - even life-saving drugs are not always available to beneficiaries. The previous Minister of Health of Crimea resigned amid scandals related to drug shortages.

Nevertheless, the Moscow-controlled Crimean authorities publicly report "successes" and claim that hospitals are allegedly 92% staffed. But even official figures admit that hundreds of vacancies remain unfilled, and rural areas are in even worse shape.

The number of Russians who moved to the occupied Crimea after 2014 but are now selling their property and returning has also increased. They are disappointed not only by the climate but also by the military atmosphere, high prices, difficulties with work, and conflicts with local residents.

Анна Бальчінос