The shortage of doctors in the Mykolaiv region is already almost 1300, including more than a hundred family doctors

As of 1 October 2024, the region is facing a shortage of almost 1,300 doctors, which is 32% of the total need.

Such data is provided in the Mykolaiv Oblast Development Strategy until 2027, according to NikVesti.

More than 850 doctors (35%) are already over 60 years old, which may further exacerbate the situation in the coming years. The greatest shortage of personnel is observed in rural areas, which directly affects the accessibility of medical care for residents of the region.

The shortage of family doctors is acute — the region lacks almost 135 general practitioners.

The staffing crisis also makes it difficult for hospitals to sign contracts with the National Health Service of Ukraine, which affects the funding and salaries of medical professionals, the programme notes.

Work is currently underway to contract healthcare facilities for 2025 and develop optimal patient routes to minimise the impact of the staffing crisis and ensure the provision of medical care to the population.

It is worth noting that in January, Iryna Tkachenko, acting head of the healthcare department of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, said that the shortage of medical workers was being reduced by interns who had arrived in Mykolaiv region from other cities.

In general, it is known that hospitals in the Mykolaiv region are staffed by only 67% of doctors, whose average age is 55-60 years.

The head of the city health department, Iryna Shamrai, previously noted that many young medical professionals had left Mykolaiv because of the war, which led to a shortage of a number of medical specialities in Mykolaiv medical institutions. According to her, primary care doctors have become the most scarce in the city today.

The Ministry of Health has also predicted a shortage of staff globally by 2030. Therefore, they are currently developing strategies to provide the system with employees.