Serving People, Improving Health Project: Second cardiovascular operating room opens in Vinnytsia Cardiology Center

The second operating room in the Vinnytsia Cardiology Center was equipped with a modern mobile digital angiograph – a device used for the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery diseases. The Cardiology Center specialists have already used the new equipment during several procedures. The new equipment, worth more than UAH 16 million, was purchased and delivered to the Vinnytsia Cardiology Center under "The component of the healthcare system of Vinnytsia region aimed at improving medical care to patients with cardiovascular pathology" subproject, which is being implemented with the support of the World Bank and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

"The second operating room, which had been a pressing need for several years, was equipped and opened with the support of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the World Bank provided under the Serving People, Improving Health joint project. Our stationary angiograph has been used in a practically non-stop mode since 2008. Now we can release the load to provide a complete maintenance service. In addition, we can now provide urgent care simultaneously to two patients , instead of making one of them wait," explained Volodymyr Gladkykh, physician-in-chief of the Vinnytsia Regional Clinical Center for Cardiovascular Pathology Diagnosis and Treatment.

The Vinnytsia Cardiology Center has also received a modern ultrasound machine, an expert-class cardiopulmonary bypass, an ECG machine, special devices for round-the-clock monitoring used to determine the functional state of the cardiovascular system and a mobile digital X-ray system used during the installation of artificial cardiac pacemakers, coronary angiography and stenting in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

In 2017, the Vinnytsia Cardiology Center held the leading position among all Ukrainian cardiac centers by the number of coronary stenting procedures (837 stent placements). In total, 2478 surgeries were performed at this center last year.

In addition to emergency cases (performed on a priority basis and free of charge), free of charge coronary angiography and stenting is to be offered to about 650 residents of Vinnytsia oblast by the end of this year. The average cost of one procedure, including medical consumables, is about UAH 25,000.

"The new regional cardiac center in Vinnytsia is due to open in the autumn of 2020. It will serve both the residents of Vinnytsia oblast and patients from the other regions of Ukraine. Since the new center is currently under construction, we are using the financial support to strengthen the capacities of a fully functioning facility," noted Liudmyla Hrabovych, head of the health department of the Vinnytsia oblast state administration.

The Serving People, Improving Health joint project of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine with the World Bank aims to reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases and the incidence of cardiovascular complications. The project is implemented at the three levels of care: primary, emergency and highly specialized cardiac care. The use of appropriate modern equipment will contribute to improving both the operating room efficiency and the quality of care.