In Ukraine, doctors« pay remains out of proportion to their responsibilities, and the planned pay rise is largely offset by inflation. Even the promised 30,000 hryvnias for doctors providing specialist medical care does not reflect the complexity of the profession or the length of their training. This was stated by Olga Golubovska, an infectious diseases specialist and professor, in an interview with *Focus* on 28 October.
- Olga Golubovska criticised the level of pay for Ukrainian doctors.
- Under the 2027 budget, the average salary for specialist doctors is set to rise to 30,000 hryvnias.
- The draft budget allocates 292.5 billion hryvnias to healthcare.
- Golubovska warned of the risk of a staff shortage due to low salaries and insufficient professional protection for healthcare workers.
Golubovska compared the salaries of doctors and beauty salon staff
The professor believes that the state underestimates the work of medical professionals, who spend years training and are responsible for patients’ lives on a daily basis. According to her, the planned increase in the average salary of a specialist doctor to 30,000 hryvnias does not solve the problem.
«30,000 hryvnias as a doctor’s salary, given the enormous responsibility for a person’s life — that is not a reward. It is contempt,» said Golubovska.
She also pointed out that a beauty salon technician’s monthly earnings can exceed the salary of a doctor who has spent 10–12 years studying.
Golubovskaya’s comparison is her assessment of the situation, rather than the result of a statistical study of salaries in the two professions.
The pay rises will be almost entirely eaten up by inflation
According to Golubovskaya’s calculations, the nominal rises in healthcare workers’ salaries will amount to 11.9%. At the same time, the forecast inflation rate of 9.3% will significantly reduce the real impact of the pay rise. The professor estimated that a doctor’s purchasing power would increase by approximately 640 hryvnias per month.
She also criticised the funding of the healthcare system. The draft state budget for 2027 allocates 292.5 billion hryvnias to healthcare.
According to her estimate, after taking inflation into account, the real increase in funding will amount to just 3.9%. At the same time, medicines, medical supplies and energy sources may rise in price faster than the general price level.
Golubovska warned of a shortage of doctors
The professor highlighted the lack of funding for hospitals’ basic needs as a separate issue. This includes the procurement of medicines, diagnostic reagents, consumables and the upgrading of equipment. According to her, retaining specialists requires not only higher salaries but also adequate legal protection for healthcare workers.
Golubovska proposed introducing a professional indemnity insurance scheme for doctors, which would protect them whilst working in high-risk environments.
The professor emphasised that without decent pay and protection against professional liability, Ukraine risks facing an increasingly acute shortage of healthcare staff.
