“This clinic saved us,” Ludmyla says. “It’s clean, warm and the staff are wonderful. I don’t need to worry anymore. I can check my blood sugar here, get my medications or even intravenous fluids if I need them. They vaccinate the children and take care of us all.”
In regions heavily affected by the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, where primary clinics have been destroyed or where villages are difficult to reach due to poor infrastructure, the European Union (EU) and WHO are deploying fully equipped modular clinics.
These facilities are established directly within communities, like in Kov’yahy village, bringing essential medical services to areas where access is otherwise limited or non-existent.
In 2025, 4 new modular primary health care clinics were installed in the most war-affected areas of Ukraine. These EU-funded modular clinics are fully integrated into the National Health System. In recent years, Ukraine’s health-care reform has reshaped how patients interact with family doctors, who are now seen as long-term health partners.
With electronic health records, doctors can quickly access a patient’s history, make informed decisions and prescribe medications.
A key part of the reform is the Affordable Medicines Programme, which helps patients with chronic conditions – like heart disease, diabetes and neurological disorders – to access essential medications for free or at a reduced cost. This support is especially vital today, as medicine prices rise and access to care remains limited in front-line regions heavily affected by the war.
Affordable Medicines Programme
For Ludmyla Yablunytska, a retiree living near Kov’yahy in Kharkiv region’s Valky community, the EU-funded clinic has brought tangible change. Ludmyla, who has type 2 diabetes, relies on regular blood sugar monitoring and medication. Thanks to the installation of a modular clinic in Kov’yahy and the Affordable Medicines Programme, she can now get her essential drugs without having to worry about the high costs that would otherwise strain her pension.
“With prices going up, it’s a real blessing,” says Ludmyla. “I’m a pensioner, so every saved hryvnia counts. Now I can get my medications through the modular clinic and programme, and that really helps. I work closely with my doctor in this new clinic – we go through the medicine list, talk about diet and even herbal teas. It feels like I have someone truly looking out for me.”
Access to care wasn’t always this simple. Before the new clinic opened in early 2025, Ludmyla and other residents had no local facility to turn to. The old hospital in Kov’yahy was in disrepair and eventually shut down. The nearest option was the clinic in Valky, a neighbouring town.
“It was such a struggle,” Ludmyla recalls.
“There used to be a hospital here, but it was cold in winter, falling apart and then they closed it down, so we had to go to Valky. The buses hardly run anymore. Most routes were cancelled or only operate early in the morning. And when you finally get to Valky, you queue for hours. It’s a district clinic, so there are always crowds. And by the time your appointment is done, there’s no way to get home. No buses run back in the afternoon.”
Ensuring continuity of care
Travelling further for care was even more complicated. Kharkiv is near the front line, in one of the regions most affected by the war.
“To get to Kharkiv, I had to call a taxi,” Ludmyla explains. “That’s expensive for someone like me, so I’d start asking around – neighbours, friends, anyone in the village who also needed to go to Kharkiv that day. If we could split the fare, it made things a little easier.
Now, thanks to the new primary modular clinic in Kov’yahy, those stressful journeys are a thing of the past.
Although Kov’yahy was never occupied during the war, it remains deeply affected. The community has taken in many internally displaced persons and frequent drone attacks have shaken daily life.
“Just last night, the sky was roaring again,” Ludmyla says. “They were raining down drones all night. It’s scary, but at least now we have a place to go when we’re unwell,” she says and smiles.
“Without this clinic, I don’t know what we would do. It makes us feel like we haven’t been forgotten.”
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, EU support has enabled the installation of 24 modular primary care clinics, 2 emergency medical team stations and 2 relocated facilities across Ukraine, with 3 more clinics expected in 2025. These mobile units are designed to ensure continuity of care, especially in areas where access to routine medical services has been disrupted.