In 2024, WHO reached 4.7 million people with essential health services.
The WHO Country Office in Ukraine has released its 2024 annual report on health emergency operations, outlining efforts to sustain and strengthen health-care delivery despite the ongoing war. These efforts include trauma response, outbreak prevention, mental health support, rehabilitation and primary health care – demonstrating that even in war, health systems can be sustained.
Serving as the operational backbone for 114 health partners, WHO supported health-care access for people across frontline areas. The report highlights how WHO maintained access through innovative primary health care solutions – such as modular clinics, outreach medical units and support of the emergency medical teams – tailored to extreme security conditions. WHO also coordinated critical medical evacuations, ensured rapid trauma care after mass casualty attacks in multiple cities, and reached displaced populations in community centres and temporary shelters.
Ongoing humanitarian needs
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022 has caused profound disruption to essential health services. Continued attacks on health facilities, shortages of funding and deteriorating infrastructure have left people – especially close to the frontline – without reliable access to care, particularly for chronic and infectious diseases. Mental health needs have soared, and risks of outbreaks such as hepatitis A and measles have intensified in vulnerable areas.
“Ukraine’s health system remains under immense pressure. In 2024, 487 attacks on health care were recorded – a 12% increase – bringing the total to over 2500 since the full-scale invasion began. These repeated attacks, combined with ongoing humanitarian needs and funding gaps, are pushing health services to the brink. Yet, thanks to our partners, WHO reached 4.7 million people in 2024 with essential care,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
“We express our deepest gratitude to our partners for the consistent support and commitment to the emergency response and early recovery efforts. This partnership has been vital in safeguarding health and building resilience amid ongoing challenges,” Habicht added.
WHO impact in 2024
In coordination with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and humanitarian partners, WHO focused on regions most affected by the war. From emergency care to long-term rehabilitation, WHO’s response aimed to maintain emergency and primary care services, expand outreach to underserved communities and begin laying the groundwork for recovery.
Key achievements include:
- Medical support: 663 tonnes of medical supplies delivered to 871 health institutions.
- Primary health care: nearly 2 million people reached through primary health care services, with a focus on chronic diseases; over 24 000 consultations conducted via mobile outreach teams.
- Training: 8000 frontline health-care workers trained in key areas of emergency medical response, including chemical, biological and radio-nuclear, infection prevention control, mass casualty and trauma care.
- Training and rehabilitation: 8700 professionals trained in emergency care; over 7500 reached through rehabilitation training.
- Support to emergency services: 43 emergency medical services and emergency medical teams provided with life-saving medical supplies.
- Infrastructure: heating, water and modular facilities benefitted over 590 000 patients.
- Medical evacuations: 1462 patient evacuations in 2024, more than 5000 since 2022.
Looking ahead: bridging response and recovery
In 2024, WHO also launched its long-term strategy for Ukraine (2024–2030), aligning emergency response with health system recovery and reform.
Earlier this year, the WHO Country Office in Ukraine also published its annual report for 2024, highlighting broader efforts to support health system recovery and long-term reforms.