Ukraine’s prosthetics market is rapidly expanding due to the impact of war, but domestic production of high-functionality components remains minimal. Knee joints with microprocessor control, known as bionics, are almost entirely imported—around 99% of components come from abroad. For upper limbs, the situation is slightly better: several Ukrainian companies are developing bionic hands and have shown remarkable progress in recent years, although elbow joint options are virtually absent. Overall, more than 95% of high-functionality prosthetics are supplied by foreign manufacturers.
This was stated in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine by Vitalii Muzychenko, Director General of the Social Protection Fund for Persons with Disabilities, reports Humanitarian Media Hub.
“At the top of the list of prosthetics and component suppliers are Germany, followed by Iceland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand. In addition, there are Poland, Turkey, and other countries. China’s share is about 1%,” said the Director General.
Leading suppliers of bionic technology include companies from Germany, Iceland, the UK, and the US, which set global quality standards. Ukrainian manufacturers account for only 10–15% of the simpler prosthetics segment with hydraulic and pneumatic systems, mostly producing localized components such as rods, fasteners, and pins. This creates challenges in logistics, pricing, and cooperation with foreign companies.
Ukraine remains one of the largest prosthetics markets in the world due to the scale of injuries caused by the war, making accessibility and supply diversification critically important.
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