Ukraine improves access to prosthetics with new interactive map listing producers

Ukraine's Ministry of Social Policy has prepared a dashboard with information on rehabilitation equipment manufacturers, Rubryka reports, citing Minister Oksana Zholnovych.

What is the problem?

According to The Wall Street Journal, almost 50,000 Ukrainians have lost limbs since the start of Russia's full-scale war. Journalists refer to the assessment of the German company Ottobock, the world's largest prostheses manufacturer, and its medical partners.

The Ukrainian authorities don't know the exact number of people who lost limbs because it is constantly growing. The demand for prosthetics in the country is increasing. Injured people often spend a lot of time to find a reliable company where they can order quality artificial limbs.

What is the solution?

"A new dashboard with a list of prosthetic producers and other rehabilitation equipment manufacturers is now available on the social policy ministry website," the department said. "Everyone who needs a prosthesis can use this tool to get information about the location of companies and their contact information in a convenient format." 

How does it work?

The new tool will allow you to filter information by region, district, and community. After choosing a prosthetics company, you can check its availability online and learn whether you need to wait in line for prosthetics.

Minister Oksana Zholnovych said that to receive a prosthesis, a wounded Ukrainian doesn't need to wait for the confirmation of disability, collect money, or go abroad. The government provides a prosthesis to everyone who needs it.

Rubryka reported that the Center for Complex Endoprosthetics, Osseointegration, and Bionics has opened its doors in Ukraine to address difficult cases of wounded veterans.

Students of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute also created a Ukrainian-made knee prosthesis in the laboratory of the Mechanical Engineering Institute.