New prosthetics lab opens at Kharkiv university hospital – ICRC
The official opening of a new prosthetics and orthotics laboratory at the University Hospital of Kharkiv National Medical University has taken place in Kharkiv, according to a press release from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) dated September 27.
"From now on, patients will have access to a full range of services, including physical therapy, psychological and psychosocial support, as well as prosthetics and/or orthotics, all within the framework of a state-owned hospital," the report said.
It is noted that this is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the ICRC and Kharkiv National Medical University. It is based on the renovation of the rehabilitation department of the University Hospital, within which a modern prosthetics and orthotics laboratory was created to provide assistance to patients with disabilities.
"The opening of a prosthetic and orthotic laboratory in Kharkiv is an important step for the entire healthcare system. We are creating conditions where people with amputees receive a full cycle of care: from initial examination to the manufacture and adjustment of prostheses, further rehabilitation and restoration of functionality. This gives them a chance to return to active life faster and restore mobility. The laboratory will also have an educational function - a new generation of Ukrainian prosthetists and orthotists will be trained here. This is systemic work that allows us to strengthen the country's human resources potential and make quality services available in the regions," noted the Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko. According to him, this experience will become the basis for the creation of similar centers in different regions of Ukraine. The Minister reported that work on this is already underway.
The head of the ICRC delegation in Ukraine, Juan Pedro Scherer, noted that the ICRC has been supporting physical rehabilitation services in Ukraine for several years, including physical therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, as well as psychological and psychosocial support for people affected by the armed conflict. "The implementation of this comprehensive rehabilitation program, including the new prosthetics and orthotics laboratory in Kharkiv, is part of a broader effort to provide patients with the necessary quality medical care, as well as to strengthen Ukraine's healthcare system for its long-term sustainability," he said. According to Valeriy Miasoedov, rector of Kharkiv National Medical University, the University Hospital has become the first state-run hospital in the healthcare system in eastern Ukraine to provide integrated rehabilitation and prosthetics services. "This is an important step towards expanding access to quality care for patients who need it, especially in regions close to hostilities," he noted.
