By KYIV. Sept 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – In Ukrainian hospitals that are part of the uniform network of medical institutions, air conditioning systems are installed in only 12% of rooms, the Ministry of Health has reported.
“Medical institutions of the uniform network shall be prepared not only for the challenges of cold weather, but also for the challenges of heat. Of more than 54,000 wards in hospitals of the uniform network, only 6,897 have air conditioners, that is, only 12% of wards are equipped with air conditioners. The Ministry of Health also helps hospitals with raising funds for reconstruction, and with expensive equipment. Providing comfortable living conditions directly in the wards is something that the institutions themselves are financially capable of,” the ministry reported on its Telegram channel.
At the same time, the Ministry of Health said that, according to the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU), hospitals currently have more than UAH 23 billion in their accounts.
“Every head of a hospital that is part of the uniform network is faced with the task of equipping the wards and doctors’ lounge rooms in a medical institution with air conditioning by the end of the year. Hospitals that cannot provide wards with air conditioning will lose the opportunity to contract with the NHSU for certain packages as early as January 1, 2024,” the Ministry of Health said.
The uniform health care network is a network of health care providers ensuring health care within the appropriate hospital district, particularly during emergencies, states of emergency, or states of war. It allows organizing the proper quality of medical care, its timeliness and accessibility for the population, and the effective use of material, labor and other resources.
