Restoring Access to Healthcare Services through the Introduction of Telemedicine in De-occupied and Frontline Settlements
Eat Europe Foundation
Project Goal
To restore and ensure continuous access to healthcare services for residents of frontline, de-occupied, and adjacent communities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast by combining telemedicine services with the work of mobile medical teams.
Implementation period:
26 February – 26 August 2025
Project Overview
The project was implemented in frontline communities of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where access to healthcare is severely limited due to a shortage of doctors, lack of public transportation, long distances to regional hospitals, and ongoing security risks. For many residents, visiting a doctor requires traveling 60–90 km on poor roads, incurring financial costs, and facing danger due to shelling.
The core of the project was the introduction of telemedicine as a sustainable model for healthcare access. Telemedicine centers enabled residents to receive consultations from doctors of various specialties without traveling to large cities, while mobile medical teams complemented this approach by providing in-person examinations and diagnostics.
Areas of Activity
The project focused on three key areas:
Diagnostics and consultations through telemedicine
Residents received online consultations with doctors of various specialties at telemedicine centers, without the need to travel to regional hospitals.
Medical outreach to frontline and de-occupied villages
In addition to telemedicine consultations, the team organized doctor visits directly to communities for in-person examinations, diagnostics, and medical assessments.
Equipping primary healthcare facilities with modern equipment
Primary healthcare facilities were supplied with the necessary equipment to conduct remote consultations and diagnostic procedures.
Telemedicine Centers
The telemedicine centers began operating in May 2025. Consultations were provided by doctors from different regions of Ukraine. Overall, patients received consultations across more than 30 medical specialties.
The highest number of telemedicine consultations were with: cardiologists, family doctors, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, and urologists.
Within the project, four telemedicine centers were established in Apostolove and Hrushivka hromadas:
Ukrainka
Kamianka
Hrushivka
Kozatskyi Kut (with a representation
in the village of Chervona Kolona)
Mobile Medical Team
In addition to telemedicine centers, the project included a mobile medical team that complemented telemedicine services with in-person doctor visits and diagnostics directly in the communities.
The mobile medical team provided:
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ultrasound examinations (thyroid, abdominal organs, transvaginal ultrasound, including early pregnancy detection);
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ophthalmological examinations and instrumental eye diagnostics;
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ECG examinations;
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laboratory tests (glucose, hemoglobin, cholesterol, uric acid, etc.);
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in-person consultations with specialized doctors.
The largest number of examinations included: ophthalmology consultations, ultrasound diagnostics, and ophthalmological examinations using retinal cameras and i-Care devices.
The mobile team included ophthalmologists, cardiologists, vascular surgeons, gynecologists, ultrasound doctors, and other specialists based on community needs.
Project Statistics
1 423
Total number of consultations
719
Unique beneficiaries
Consultations were provided both online at telemedicine centers and during in-person visits organized by the project team at the locations where the centers operate.
Psychological Support
An unexpected outcome of the project was the high demand for psychological support. Patients sought help for anxiety, insomnia, and emotional exhaustion.
Some patients received 3–5 consultations with psychologists and psychotherapists, indicating a high level of trust in the telemedicine format.
Nurses
Nurses played a crucial role in the implementation of telemedicine services at the centers.
In some communities, nurses had no prior experience working with computers. During the project, they learned to use digital tools, coordinate telemedicine consultations, and work with modern medical equipment.
The project provided communities with more than access to healthcare—it strengthened local capacity and improved the resilience of the primary healthcare system. For many nurses, this experience brought not only practical skills but also greater confidence and a sense of involvement in meaningful change.
New telemedicine centers in Dnipropetrovsk region
How to get to a specialist in the Apostolivska and Hrushivska communities | Telemedicine centers
Video "The only opportunity to see a doctor: the experience of telemedicine centers in the Dnipropetrovsk region"
With the support of
The project "Restoring access to medical services through the implementation of telemedicine in deoccupied and frontline settlements" is being implemented within the framework of the "Capable and Strong" program, which is implemented by the Eastern Europe Foundation with the assistance of Switzerland.
How to support us in providing medical help civilians in frontline and de-ocuppited areas?
Provide medical equipment
We're always looking for ways to provide more needed medical services. For this, we need:
— portable ultrasound;
— portable blood analyzer;
— fluorography machines;
— ophthalmologist's equipment;
— mobile dental clinic / portable dentist equipment, etc.
We're open to different opportunities to add new examination methods we can use on the spot during our missions.
Donate for the immediate needs
Support us one time to help cover current needs: fuel, consumables, medicine, etc.
Provide the vehicle
We're looking for an off-road vehicle for our missions. The roads on de-occupied territories are poor, and our ambulances constantly need repairs. So we need a spare reliable transport to reach people constantly.
Support our sustainability
We are looking for sustainable funding for the organization to continue its work, save health and lives.
Do you have other ideas?
Don't hesitate to contact us If you have other ideas on how to provide more quality services for people in de-occupied territories.
Please email us at
