High Mortality in Ukraine

Rural areas, where 48.9% of the Ukrainian people live, show a mortality rate 46.7% higher than anywhere in the cities, two to three times higher child mortality.

All told, Ukraine has lost 2 million residents over the past seven years. By way of comparison, as many Soviet citizens died in the first months following the Nazi aggression (June 22, 1941), beginning what the Soviets called the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 (known elsewhere as World War II).
Today's Ukrainian physician receives an average of Hr 122.33 a month, slightly above the lowest-paid category of "cultural workers." Budget subsidies supply 40% of the health care industry's actual needs.

The President, appearing at the conference later in the afternoon, informed those present that the reason for the aggravating national health is not so much the current socioeconomic condition as the result of the former Soviet empire's colonialist policy toward Ukraine (!). Another reason is the number of pensioners: 15 million. "We regard medicine as a priority of the highest importance," stressed Mr. Kuchma.

This author thought the President's appearance at the conference at three o'clock was no coincidence, because the heated debate in the audience had ebbed by that hour and the standing orders precluded further critical speeches. Yet there was a hitch. Volodymyr Frolkis, Vice President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, took the floor again and repeated his very critical speech specially for the President. The Chief Executive's reaction? He smiled twice at certain points in Dr. Frolkis's presentation that would make most others weep.