Ukraine has 20% fewer pediatric ophthalmologists than needed, says health ministry representative

Kyiv, March 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The shortage of pediatric ophthalmologists in Ukraine is 20%, the chief pediatric ophthalmologist of the Health Ministry, Yuriy Barinov, said during a press conference hosted by Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, there is a lack in pediatric ophthalmologists in Ukraine, especially in remote areas, [such as] in villages in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Zakarpattia regions, where sometimes whole districts do not have pediatric ophthalmologists. The shortage of pediatric ophthalmologists is 20%," he said.

According to Barinov, 653 pediatric ophthalmologists work in Ukraine, and their average age is increasing.