Access to treatment for non-communicable diseases in Ukraine has been critically disrupted by the war, leading to what experts call a “delayed-action effect.” The lack of early diagnosis and interrupted care for cancer and diabetes means these diseases are increasingly being detected at advanced stages, when treatment is less effective or no longer possible. This is highlighted in a article by the Humanitarian Media Hub, citing the World Health Organization (WHO).
Specialized medical care remains severely limited. According to the study, only 12% of multidisciplinary hospitals in Ukraine are equipped to treat acute myocardial infarction. In 2023, the hospitalization rate for cardiovascular diseases reached 37.5 per 1,000 people — an 8.6% increase compared to 2014. In Kharkiv region, cases of hypertension rose by 9.5%, angina by 17.1%, and acute myocardial infarction by 20.4%.
Diabetes care, while available in 79% of medical facilities nationwide, shows significant regional gaps in frontline areas such as Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. National data reveals that the average HbA1c level — a key indicator of diabetes control — has increased during the war, and the number of patients with uncontrolled diabetes has doubled. Contributing factors include chronic stress, disrupted medical supervision, medication supply issues, and changes in diet.
Cancer care is also in a critical state. In 2024, Ukraine registered 111,153 new cases of malignant tumors. The most common diagnoses were cancers of the digestive system, non-melanoma skin cancer, and reproductive organ cancers. However, only 17% of medical institutions offer cancer diagnostics, 14% provide screening, and less than 1% are equipped to deliver chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
The cumulative impact of these disruptions poses a long-term threat to public health and places immense pressure on Ukraine’s already strained healthcare system.
