Adopting a people-centred approach to improve the prehospital care system in eastern Ukraine (2020)

WHO conducted a qualitative and quantitative survey of emergency medical services (EMS) across the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of eastern Ukraine in 2019. In a follow up to this survey, WHO conducted a descriptive analysis of selected data sets based on identified indicators and including a literature review of key documents drafted by the Ministry of Health in Ukraine. The follow-up study aims to offer evidence-based recommendations to improve the quality of prehospital care in eastern Ukraine.

This report presents an overview of the study’s results and recommendations, focusing on strengthening emergency medical care and adopting a people-centred approach. It demonstrates that the fundamental building blocks of prehospital care in Ukraine are present but require certain improvements, including ensuring the availability of appropriate medical supplies and medical equipment for EMS, strengthening governance and accountability, improving the coordination of services within and across the sector, creating a culture of safety and an enabling environment, and launching a computerized medical register.