In 2023, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine made a centralized purchase of 44 units of high-value medical equipment worth 1.6 billion hryvnias. Among the acquisitions are linear accelerators for the treatment of cancer, magnetic resonance imaging machines and dental computer tomography machines. However, as of November 2024, only 2 of these units have been commissioned, representing only 4.5% of the planned number.
The procurement, carried out through the State Enterprise "Medical Procurement of Ukraine", was the first centralized attempt by the Ministry of Health to purchase high-tech medical equipment for state medical institutions. However, this process was delayed, and by 2024, only half of the equipment had reached medical facilities, but remained inactive.
The Audit of the Accounting Chamber revealed serious problems in the organization of procurement. In particular, it was found that the Ministry of Health did not carry out a proper analysis of the needs of medical institutions for such equipment, and the procurement process itself was accompanied by significant shortcomings. Equipment that did not meet the requirements in terms of type and quantity was distributed among several institutions that did not have ready premises for its installation.
Moreover, some of the equipment was stored in improper conditions, which could affect its performance. This reflects systemic problems in the organization of procurement and in the management of medical supplies, which has led to a significant gap between public spending and the actual use of equipment.
In addition, due to numerous delays in the process of delivery and redistribution of equipment, citizens who could receive medical care with the help of these latest technologies remain without access to them.
The Ministry of Health and SE "Medical Procurement of Ukraine" have already declared their readiness to correct the situation: the Ministry promises to understand the reasons for the delays and speed up the process of putting medical equipment into operation, as well as establish clear criteria for the distribution of equipment between medical institutions.
Against the background of this situation, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is recommended to provide medical institutions with the necessary additional equipment for putting linear accelerators into operation, as well as to complete the preparation of premises for their installation.
In general, these problems with the organization of procurement and installation of medical equipment demonstrate deficiencies in management that have serious consequences for Ukrainians' access to necessary medical care.
