Only one person in Mykolaiv region has taken advantage of the scheme offering a payment of ₴200,000 to attract medical staff

A hospital in the town of Bashtanka. Illustrative photo: NikVesti

In the Mykolaiv region, only one doctor has taken advantage of the state programme to incentivise medical staff, which provides a payment of 200,000 hryvnias for working in rural areas.

This was reported by Iryna Tkachenko, head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration’s Health Department, during a briefing on the results of work in 2025, according to NikVesti.

According to the official, the problem of staff shortages in the region’s healthcare facilities remains a pressing issue and has not changed for a long time. At the same time, the state and local authorities are attempting to resolve this problem independently.

However, one such initiative has effectively yielded no results. In 2025, only one specialist signed a contract with a medical facility in a rural area, which is incentivised by the government with a one-off payment of 200,000 hryvnias.

Communities are also trying to tackle the shortage themselves by purchasing housing for doctors, says Iryna Tkachenko.

«To meet staffing needs in 2025, two flats were purchased for medical staff at certain healthcare facilities, specifically the Bashtanka Multidisciplinary Hospital. Funding is also planned for 2026 to purchase one flat. The Berezneguvatsk Central District Hospital has acquired a three-room flat with all amenities. The flat is ready for occupancy and the hospital is looking for specialists. In Domanivka, thanks to the support of partners, a modular house has been handed over to the community so that a doctor from among the IDPs can work and have a place to live. Therefore, the region is waiting for its doctors, and we will be very grateful for such support from our partners,» noted Iryna Tkachenko.

The issue of staff shortages in the Mykolaiv region is not being raised for the first time. However, Vitalii Kim, head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, recently stated that at present the region is unable to attract even young doctors.

In February, he personally invited doctors to work at the hospital in the town of Bashtanka in the Mykolaiv region. The regional head noted that the authorities promise to provide them with accommodation in return.