Oleksandr Urin Appointed Permanent Head of Ukraine's Key Children's Hospital, Ohmatdyt

New Permanent Director for Ohmatdyt

According to Главком: Oleksandr Urin has been formally appointed as the General Director of Ukraine's National Children's Specialized Hospital, Ohmatdyt. A physician and anesthesiologist, Urin has worked at the institution for over two decades and currently leads its intensive care and efferent therapy department for acute and chronic intoxications. He had been serving as the acting director for the past year and a half.

This appointment brings permanent leadership to a critical institution that has been operating under immense strain. Urin's predecessor, Volodymyr Zhovnir, was suspended from his duties in August 2024. That same month, Health Minister Viktor Liashko named Urin as the acting director, a role he maintained until this permanent appointment.

Steering Through Crisis and Recovery

Urin's tenure as acting director included managing the hospital's response and recovery from a devastating missile strike on July 8, 2024. The attack resulted in two fatalities-a patient's relative and a doctor-and left 32 people wounded. A critically ill boy in intensive care died several days later. The missile completely destroyed the toxicology building and damaged four other hospital structures. Urin also chaired the commission for Ohmatdyt's reorganization to oversee the reconstruction of its treatment and diagnostic facilities.

The decision to confirm Urin as permanent head underscores the priority placed on stability and deep institutional knowledge for leading medical facilities, particularly during wartime recovery. His proven performance in the acting role, including guiding the hospital through extreme adversity, demonstrates a capacity to handle the severe challenges facing Ukraine's healthcare system. This move is expected to provide continuity for the critical strategies of rebuilding and modernizing the heavily damaged hospital.