The main reasons Ukrainians cite for the deterioration in access to medical services during the war are the outflow of medical personnel and the destruction of medical infrastructure by the aggressor.

According to the results of a survey conducted by research company Active Group and the Experts Club analytical center in early February and presented at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Friday, 48% of respondents said they have experienced a deterioration in medical services during the war.

Among the main problems facing healthcare under wartime conditions, 60% of respondents cited the outflow of medical personnel, 22.7% cited destruction of medical infrastructure, and 13.4% cited a shortage of medicines.

"Considering that the deterioration in medical services occurs because medical institutions are either physically destroyed or doctors have left them, the fact that only 48% of respondents felt a decline is not a bad result. The main problems in medicine during the war are the outflow of medical personnel, then destruction of infrastructure, and only then the shortage of medicines. In other words, we see that the primary problem is staffing, the shortage of medical personnel," said Active Group founder Andriy Yeremenko.

Healthcare reforms implemented in recent years have contributed to the system's continued functioning, and the fact that people speak about no improvement or even deterioration in the quality of medical services, according to the expert, still "does not amount to sharp criticism."

According to the survey, 7.2% currently assess the state of the healthcare system as very poor, 18.7% as rather poor, 16.7% as rather good, and 2% as very good. Meanwhile, 54.6% gave it an average rating.

At the same time, 29.5% of respondents fully trust their family doctor, and 61.9% trust them partially.

When evaluating the ability to obtain consultations with a family doctor in their region, 88.8% of respondents said it is very easy or easy to do so, while 21% said it is very difficult or difficult.

Slightly more than 10% of respondents said their local hospital is fully stocked with medicines and modern equipment, while 45.8% said they are stocked only partially.

Meanwhile, 40% of respondents said they must wait up to one week for a specialist consultation, 28.4% wait one to two weeks, and 11.5% wait more than a month. In 2024–2025, 68% of respondents regularly paid for medical services out of pocket.

Additionally, 16% of respondents reported spending less than 5% of their family budget on healthcare, while nearly 21% said they spend more than 20%.

"The study revealed both positive and painful aspects of Ukraine's healthcare system. The most painful issue is the outflow of personnel. But it is important to see the strengths as well. I was very pleased that the level of trust in family doctors is very high. So the foundation for developing the healthcare system exists, although, in particular due to the war, there are economic and accessibility barriers," said Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.