The full-scale war has intensified the need to access healthcare services anytime and anywhere they are needed, especially in remote communities and frontline areas. In this context, mobile medical units have become a practical tool that helps rapidly restore access to primary healthcare services.
That is why our team at the Ukrainian Healthcare Centre (UHC) contributed to the development of a concept guideline for implementing mobile medical units as part of the project “Health Without Distance: Mobile Medicine for Communities.” This document serves as a practical tool for those planning to launch mobile healthcare services in their communities.
The project “Health Without Distance: Mobile Medicine for Communities” has created new opportunities to improve access to and quality of healthcare services for more than 500,000 people. It supported 20 communities across 6 regions of Ukraine by equipping them with mobile medical units to deliver primary healthcare services.
Over the past two years, in collaboration with our partners, we have worked on:
- Community assessment: conducting a comprehensive analysis of primary healthcare service delivery in communities;
- PHC+: presenting the enhanced primary healthcare (PHC+) model to 20 communities;
- Logistics: developing over 1,000 routes for mobile medical units based on community needs;
- Training: delivering 15 training sessions for 214 participants, including managers, doctors, nurses, and drivers;
- Methodology: developing the concept guideline “Mobile Medical Units as a Tool for Providing Health Services in War-Affected Communities.”
What does the concept guideline cover?
The document brings together key solutions and approaches for designing mobile healthcare services, including:
- General principles for implementing mobile medical units;
- Assessment of efficiency in delivering healthcare services through mobile medical units;
- Planning and delivering services through mobile medical units, including approaches to route optimization;
- Allocation of responsibilities between the mobile medical unit team and on-site staff, including two scenarios: where no healthcare worker is present in the community and where one is available;
- Organization of mobile medical unit operations: internal processes and documentation;
- Technical requirements and equipment: checklists and digital solutions for low-connectivity environments;
- Community engagement and communication with patients;
- Financing of mobile medical units.
Ultimately, the guideline is the result of the entire project, a practical document that supports the implementation of mobile medical units, from initial needs assessment to organising processes, roles, and financing models.
What does the concept guideline cover?
The document brings together key solutions and approaches for designing mobile healthcare services, including:
- General principles for implementing mobile medical units;
- Assessment of efficiency in delivering healthcare services through mobile medical units;
- Planning and delivering services through mobile medical units, including approaches to route optimization;
- Allocation of responsibilities between the mobile medical unit team and on-site staff, including two scenarios: where no healthcare worker is present in the community and where one is available;
- Organization of mobile medical unit operations: internal processes and documentation;
- Technical requirements and equipment: checklists and digital solutions for low-connectivity environments;
- Community engagement and communication with patients;
- Financing of mobile medical units.
Ultimately, the guideline is the result of the entire project, a practical document that supports the implementation of mobile medical units, from initial needs assessment to organising processes, roles, and financing models.
Why is this important?
Mobile medical units help ensure access to healthcare services where stationary facilities are unavailable or difficult to reach. In emergencies, they can temporarily substitute or reinforce healthcare delivery until facilities are restored. In remote areas, they enable people to receive care when distance or other barriers limit access to healthcare services.
Even after the war ends, the issue of accessibility will remain relevant for remote areas and populations with limited mobility.
The project “Implementation of Mobile Medical Services and Strengthening Community Resilience in the Context of Military Aggression of the Russian Federation” was implemented by the Charitable Foundation Patients of Ukraine in partnership with the Ukrainian Healthcare Center (UHC), funded by the German Government and the European Union, and carried out by GIZ Ukraine within the framework of the Special Assistance Programme Ukraine / EU4ResilientRegions.