Author: Malwina Rouba
Since mid-2023 the Polish Medical Mission has been bringing much-needed and looked for medical help to Ukrainian people in the humanitarian crisis who desperately need medical assistance but have no way to receive it. The war-torn country, with devastated medical facilities, continues to witness difficulties to provide citizens with efficient access to qualified medical services. These are mostly elderly people (over 85% of consultations) who were unable or unwilling to evacuate and who are suffering from age-related and chronical diseases. Many of them cannot even afford or simply get prescribed life-saving medications. Most of them had not accessed medical care for extended periods due to displacement, closure of health facilities, or logistical constraints.
First two mobile clinics started their operations in summer 2023 and since then are being operated in cooperation of PMM with the Israeli-Ukrainian NGO, FRIDA. In 2024 two Mobile Clinics projects were run as the continuation of the first 2023 initiative “Support of primary medical care in Eastern Ukraine through the activities of mobile clinics”. They have been continuously providing primary medical care, including consultations, diagnostics (ECG, glucometry, spirometry), psychological support where applicable, and dispensing of essential medicines. The Mobile Clinics system consists of two vans carrying the most important medical equipment plus medical personnel. The staff of the first clinic consisted of 2 physicians - a general practitioner and a cardiologist, a psychologist and 2 nurses (+ driver), the staff of the second clinic: 1 cardiologist, 1 endocrinologist and 2 nurses (+ driver). The mobile laboratory was operated by 1 laboratory technician and a driver. The second phase of the project was launched on 01 July 2024 and continued through 31 December 2024 under updated organizational and security conditions. Two mobile clinics (in Kharkiv and Sumy regions) continued field visits based on weekly and monthly rotating schedules. A third mobile clinic and the mobile laboratory, previously stationed in Kharkiv, remained inactive and were relocated to Kyiv in May due to increased hostilities in the region. Following its relocation in May 2024, the mobile laboratory was transformed into a stationary diagnostic unit operating from Kyiv. The decision was made due to the increased security risks in Kharkiv and logistical limitations that made field deployment unsafe and impractical. Since August 2024, the laboratory resumed its work in a stationary format, receiving biological samples by courier from mobile teams operating in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Sample collection was carried out by nurses during scheduled consultations, based on prescriptions issued by field doctors. The laboratory operated five days per week, processing samples and providing diagnostic results via electronic communication to the field teams. Results were then discussed with patients during follow-up visits. The stationary setting ensured uninterrupted testing and faster turnaround times for results, despite ongoing power outages and disruptions in some field locations.
Lab tests offered by the mobile lab include: Count blood cells (CBC), General urine test (GUT), ALT, AST, AP, GGTP, Albumin (Alb), Total protein (Prot), Bilirubin (SBR, dSBR, inSBR), Lipase (LP), C-Reactive protein (CRP, HS-CRP), ASLO, Rheumatoid factor (FR), Urea (Ur), Uric acid (UA), Creatinine (Cr), Lipid panel (TC, TG, HDL, LDL), LD, CK-MB, IgM, Phosphorus (Ph), Calcium (Ca), Iron studies (Ir, Fer, Trans, UIBC), HbA1c, D-dimer, Troponin, Glucose, COVID, Flu, Syphilis, Pregnancy, HIV/Hepatitis, StrepTest. Only during the second half of 2024 the Clinics performed 1.204 tests including: 281 ECGs, 18 spirometry and 905 glucometry tests.
"My well-being has truly improved. It's very convenient for all of us to have access to your services, where we can get blood sugar tests, check blood pressure, and receive medications free of charge. I’m very satisfied with your doctors — they are the only ones here who can properly interpret an ECG and prescribe appropriate treatment. I have diabetes, so your presence here is extremely important to me," shares Ms. Iryna, our patient from Kharkiv region
Between July and December 2024, project activities covered as many as 46 settlements. In Kharkiv region, locations included Izium, Dovhalivka, Kutuzivka, Slatino, Ruska Lozova, Bezruki, Tsyrkuny, and Vilkhivka. In Sumy region, mobile teams visited numerous rural locations including Yaroshivka, Dibrova, Khustianka, Hudymy, Vasylivka, Anastasivka, Popivshchyna, Holinka, Nova Hreblia, Artiukhivka, Hlynsk, Voloshnivka, Loknia, Smile, Basivka, Hai, Andriivka, Sulymy, Dzerkalka, Khomyntsi, and others. The project originally was planned for implementation until the end of year 2024, but due to continuously high demand for Mobile Clinics services was extended for another six months – until mid-2025.
During the entire 2024, mobile teams operated in Kharkiv and Sumy regions, providing medical assistance to 10.818 patients. 7.557 (69,8%) women and 3.261 (30,2%) men. Among them less than 8% were persons with disabilities. Throughout all of the projects editions the largest group of patients are elderly people over 65 years of age, next most numerous group are adults 18–65 yrs and the smallest number are newborns and small children. Non-communicable diseases predominated, accounting for 87% of all diagnosed with chronic disorders. Patients most often struggled with cardiovascular diseases, such as – most common – arterial hypertension and chronic coronary syndrome, chronic heart failure. Also common were diseases of the musculoskeletal system – above all musculoskeletal disorders as well as protrusions and herniated disks. There was also a significant number of patients with diabetes.
Ongoing monitoring of Mobile Clinics activities shows that for most cases patients are expressing their gratitude for the consultations, support, and medications provided. However sometimes they request expanding the list of available medications, especially for chronic diseases, which are not fully covered due to limited funding. Requests also involve providing more specialists, such as neurologists, ophthalmologists, and ultrasound diagnosticians.
" My life has changed for the better! Medicines are brought to us — not in large quantities, of course, but we know they are high-quality, effective medicines prescribed by a doctor. We are also pleased that all the instructions on the medicine packaging are in Ukrainian, which is very important for us elderly people who do not know other languages. It is also great that the medicines come with prescriptions explaining how to take them and in what dosage." Says Roman from the city of Izum.
Such opinions allow the Polish Medical Mission and FRIDA to reaffirm their conviction about the deep meaning and value of the work that the Mobile Clinics provide to the affected population of the war-torn areas. Even though the security situation being more and more challenging while in recent months the Russian army continues military actions across Sumy and Kharkiv regions, including drone and missile attacks on urban infrastructure and humanitarian facilities, increasing the risks for civilians and humanitarian teams.