Joint-replacement surgery in Ukraine
Joint replacement is a common surgery for people with severely damaged joints. In Ukraine, doctors have carried out 26,000 endoprosthesis procedures for patients who were on the electronic waiting list. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 13,000 of these operations have been performed. Patients pay nothing for the service, and it is provided by 101 medical institutions across the country using endoprostheses procured with public funds.
How to access the service
To qualify, a patient must submit a free-form application with:
- full name
- date of birth
- RNOKPP (tax identification number)
- series and number of the identity document
In addition, a specialist consultation report is required. Patients who already have documents proving eligibility for priority surgery should prepare those as well. That priority right applies to war veterans, Chernobyl cleanup workers, and patients with medical conditions such as aseptic necrosis or subchondral fracture.
Each hospital keeps an electronic queue; the treating doctor enters the patient's details, and the system automatically builds a call-up list based on the availability of the required implant type and whether the patient is entitled to priority. Urgent operations are handled outside the queue in acute medical situations, while planned operations are performed strictly in order.
'This initiative highlights efforts by Ukraine's healthcare system to improve access to joint-replacement services for patients who need them,' the Ministry of Health of Ukraine said.
The state-funded operations reduce the financial burden on patients and allow timely treatment for those with valid medical indications. The electronic queue also improves resource management and patient service.