Ukraine’s health sector has made dramatic progress in the last decade—modernizing after years of stagnation and more recently, amid wartime crisis. More than 1,000 hospitals and 1,900 primary care centers serve a nation of 36 million, covering everything from local wellness clinics to high-tech national referral hospitals. Since 2017, major reforms have shifted the system from outdated Soviet-style care to a patient-centered, insurance-based, and increasingly digital network.
Here’s how to get started:
The Modern Ukrainian Hospital System: Structure and Mission
A. Health Care Reform and Digital Evolution
- State-Guaranteed Benefits: The “Program of Medical Guarantees” spells out what is covered by state insurance, with primary/urgent, chronic, rehabilitation, and cancer care all fully covered when properly referred.
- Family Doctor at the Center: Every citizen chooses their own family doctor (“gatekeeper” to secondary care)—consultations, tests, referrals, and e-prescriptions all flow through this relationship.
- Electronic Health Records & eHealth: All hospitals use digital patient files (since 2023), with the Diia app and eHealth platforms supporting appointments, prescriptions, test results, and insurance status.
- Payment Reforms: The National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) pays hospitals per patient or per service, incentivizing prevention, good outcomes, and prioritizing serious/chronic illnesses. Hospitals operate with expanded autonomy and funding flexibility.
B. Hospital Levels and Types
- Primary Care Centers: 1,900+ “polyclinics” and rural health posts country-wide; first stop for preventive care, chronic disease, and simple diagnostics.
- District (Rayon) Hospitals: Serve local areas with general medicine, basic maternity, surgery, trauma care, internal medicine, and stabilization for critical transfers.
- Hospital Districts (Hromadas): Regional networks (200K+ population) anchor more advanced surgery, diagnostics, and trauma specialties—key referral hubs.
- City/Regional Hospitals & Specialty Centers: Major urban areas boast multispecialty hospitals, war trauma, children’s, and cancer centers, plus infectious disease and cardiac institutes.
- National Institutes & Private Facilities: Super-specialist hospitals (Amosov Institute, Okhmatdyt, Institute of Oncology, Heart Institute, etc.) and private clinics (fast elective care, luxury comfort, international payer networks) in main cities.
C. Statistics & Health System Scale
| Year | 2014 | 2021 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | 1,312 | 1,135 | 1,022 |
| Beds | 277,793 | 228,120 | 215,308 |
| Beds/10,000 people | 78.5 | 55.6 | 52.5* |
| Family Clinics | 1,834 | 1,994 | 1,944 |
| Paramedic/Midwife Stations | 13,295 | 8,708 | 6,977 |
| Doctors | 159,969 | 143,887 | 133,237 |
| Nurses | 346,191 | 261,255 | 229,368 |
- *Sources: Ministry of Health, 2024. Population figures fluctuate due to war displacement and demographic trends.
What Services Do Ukrainian Hospitals Offer?
– Emergency Care: 24/7 ERs in all hospitals, triage in crises, urgent surgery, trauma, burns, stabilization.
– Surgery: From hernia repair to heart and neuro surgery, war and peacetime trauma, hematology/oncology, and rare disease.
– Maternity & Pediatrics: Every region has delivery wards, C-section suites, mother/baby care, plus Okhmatdyt and regional pediatric hubs.
– Cancer & Cardiac Care: National Institutes for all major oncology, radiology, chemotherapy, heart surgery and IVF, plus regional cancer centers.
– Chronic and Preventive Care: Outpatient, day hospital, rehab, and specialist clinics—diabetes, TB, HIV, hypertension, asthma, and rehab.
– Telemedicine & eHealth: Consult with remote doctors via Diia app or regional hospital portals; all new facilities are digital-first.
Patient Pathways: How to Navigate the System
Step 1: Registration and Family Doctor
- Sign up with a family physician for first-line care, free consults, test access, and specialist referrals. Choose your provider via MyHospitalNow or the Diia app.
Step 2: Emergency or Inpatient Needs
- Go directly to the nearest ER or hospital in urgent cases—emergency care is universal and cannot be denied.
- For planned or specialist treatment, bring digital or paper referral, ID, and insurance documents.
Step 3: Digital Tools and Record-Keeping
- Use eHealth/Diia for appointment scheduling, viewing test results, tracking medication, and accessing electronic discharge summaries.
- All new insurance and hospital paperwork is integrated with your family doctor.
Step 4: Specialist Access & Advanced Care
- Family doctor referral is required for most specialties; cancer and cardiac emergencies may be fast-tracked.
- National Institutes (Kyiv and major cities) require special referral, but private clinics can be accessed by self-paying patients at any time.
Major Hospitals and Specialty Centers in Ukraine
| Name | City | Focus | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amosov Institute of Cardiology | Kyiv | Cardiac surgery, cath lab | National & global heart center |
| Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital | Kyiv | Pediatric, rare disease | Modern, research & trauma leader |
| Kyiv City Clinical Hospital | Kyiv | Surgery, ER, OB/GYN, infectious | Major urban anchor, digital records |
| Lviv Regional Hospital | Lviv | Oncology, neuro, maternity | Major west Ukraine center |
| Odesa Regional Clinical Hosp. | Odesa | Trauma surgery, diagnostics | Advanced trauma, recovery, rehab |
| Kharkiv Regional Clinical Hosp. | Kharkiv | Specialized surgery, ortho | Regional flagship/trauma |
| Dnipro Emergency Hospital | Dnipro | Trauma, rehab, front-line care | Crisis resilient, rapid response |
| National Cancer Institute | Kyiv | Oncology surgery/chemo | Full scope, advanced radiation |
| Private Multispecialty Clinics | Major cities | Cardiology, ortho, IVF, diagnostics | Fast access, expat/medical traveler |
The Daily Patient Journey – What to Expect
- Step 1: Initial consultation at a family clinic—digital registration, basic labs, e-prescriptions, appointment/ER referral.
- Step 2: For serious needs, referral to city, district, or specialist hospital—digital files follow the patient.
- Step 3: Admission at advanced facility—digital confirmation, multidisciplinary assessment, pre-op or therapy plan, inpatient diagnostics.
- Step 4: Surgery or specialist intervention—modern operating theaters, e-monitoring, family updates.
- Step 5: Recovery and aftercare—physical therapy, online discharge notes, diagrams, medication plans, telemedicine follow-ups.
Special Challenges: War, Modernization & Resilience
- Impact of conflict: Over 200 hospitals damaged since 2022, contingency plans enable rapid mobile/temporary hospital deployment, massive relocation of critical care, growing focus on trauma/rehabilitation/mental health.
- Healthcare financing: Daily operations funded via NHSU; humanitarian grants bolster critical services and rural clinics.
- Insurance and costs: Most basic care is state-covered, private and advanced procedures may require self-pay or international coverage.
- Workforce and reform: Medical student reform, new incentives for rural/war-affected doctor placements, telemedicine-based mentorship, and continuing education.
Voices of Real Patients
- “Every step, from my village clinic to Okhmatdyt’s pediatric team, was digital, safe, and tracked for all my child’s cancer treatment.”
- “Fleeing the fighting, my family got ER care in Lviv without delay, and all our health records transferred securely.”
- “The Kyiv cardiac team coordinated everything—from diagnosis to surgery to digital follow-up—with English-speaking support for my expat husband.”
- “We used MyHospitalNow to compare private maternity options and found a top expat-friendly women’s clinic with bundled delivery packages.”
Step-by-Step Planning Checklist
- ☐ Choose/register a family doctor in your area or city
- ☐ Gather ID, insurance, eHealth login, and any digital records
- ☐ Know key nearby hospitals (district, regional/urban, specialty)
- ☐ For emergencies: go direct to ER—no appointment or referral needed
- ☐ Discuss outpatient and inpatient aftercare with medical team; set up follow-ups via Diia or MyHospitalNow
- ☐ For overseas visitors: clarify authorization and payment details with private clinics in advance
FAQs: Ukrainian Hospital Care Demystified
Is care free for everyone?
Primary, emergency, and referred secondary/tertiary care are state-covered for citizens; additional services (comfort rooms, private procedures) incur fees.
Can expats/foreigners access digital health or e-care?
Most private clinics open digital and in-person access; public eHealth requires registration with a Ukrainian ID.
How is language handled?
Major city and private hospitals offer English and other interpreter services.
Are hospitals safe in all regions?
Most west/central region hospitals are fully operational; check MyHospitalNow for current hospital status in conflict-affected zones.
What about mental health and rehabilitation?
Key focus since 2022: hospital therapies, mobile clinics, rehab for trauma/war injuries, and a growing digital mental health support network.
Using MyHospitalNow to Navigate Ukraine’s Hospital System
- Use the Hospitals in Ukraine category for city, region, and specialty filters, recent user reviews, and printable hospital checklists.
- Download digital resources, compare urban/rural access, and reach out through the platform for facility-specific guidance.
- Stay updated on hospital availability, reform news, and specialty innovations all in one place.
Begin Your Modern Healthcare Journey in Ukraine
Whether you need surgery, neonatal care, cancer therapy, trauma support, or chronic disease management, Ukraine’s hospitals—public, private, specialty, and international—provide nationwide coverage, digital connectivity, and world-class expertise. MyHospitalNow helps every family, professional, and traveler plan their care, prepare their journey, and recover with confidence.
- Visit the homepage
- Navigate to Hospitals in Ukraine category
Ukraine’s hospital system—explained, compared, and simplified for you, only on MyHospitalNow. Your health journey starts here.