By the end of 2025, Kyiv will complete external repairs of the damaged building of Okhmatdet
9 May 15:25
By the end of 2025, the external repair works of the treatment and diagnostic building of the children’s hospital “Okhmatdet” in Kiev should be completed. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Health Edem Adamanov during a telethon, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports with reference to Ukrinform.
According to him, the first priority is to fully restore the exterior of the building so that the medical center could work in the cold season. Internal works, if they remain, can continue after the onset of the fall and winter period.
Adamanov reminded that the hospital has announced a tender for major repairs of the damaged building. The expected cost of restoration is 367.5 million hryvnias. The winner should be selected by the end of May.
These funds should cover the repair of facades, interior premises, engineering communications, heating systems, ceilings, as well as the adjacent infrastructure, in particular the road that was damaged during the attack. At the same time, this amount does not include the renewal of medical equipment.
As for the equipment, Adamanov said that the Howard Buffett Foundation is in charge of replacing it. More than 100 million hryvnias worth of equipment has already been delivered – it replaces the equipment destroyed during the shelling.
What is known about the Russian strike on Okhmatdet?
on July 8, 2024, Russia launched a massive missile strike on Ukraine, one of the objects of which was the children’s specialized hospital “Okhmatdet” in Kiev. At the time of the attack, 627 children were in the hospital, eight of whom were injured. Two adults were killed.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the hospital was hit by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, which was programmed to hit this particular facility. The strike destroyed more than 20 wards and a unique laboratory.
After the attack, 94 patients were transferred to other medical facilities, 68 children remained to be treated in the surviving buildings, and 465 children who needed routine treatment were temporarily discharged home.
The international community condemned the attack. In particular, the UN said that analysis indicated a direct hit by a Russian missile on the hospital.
Russia’s massive strikes on Kiev on July 8 killed 33 people, including 5 children
The reconstruction of the National Children’s Specialized Hospital “Okhmatdet” after the missile strike on July 8, 2024 is accompanied by a number of scandals related to the transparency of tenders, use of charity funds and management decisions.
Scandalous tender for UAH 307 mln
After the hospital was shelled, the charitable foundation “Okhmatdet – Healthy Childhood” announced a tender for the restoration of the treatment and diagnostic building. The winner was a little-known company from Zaporizhzhya – Bud-Technolodge LLC, which offered one of the most expensive bids – UAH 307 million. This caused outrage, as other participants offered much lower prices, and the winner did not have the necessary equipment and experience to perform the work.
HealthMinistry’s reaction and cancelation of the tender
Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said that the tender would be canceled and a new tender would be held through the Prozorro system. A law-enforcement inspection was also initiated, and Okhmatdet CEO Volodymyr Zhovnir was suspended from his post during the investigation.
Problems with charitable funds
The Okhmatdet – Healthy Childhood charitable foundation collected over UAH 378 mln for the hospital’s reconstruction, but refused to transfer these funds to the official account of the medical institution. This caused public outrage and led to lawsuits demanding that the donations be transferred to the hospital’s account.
Political reaction
People’s deputies have called for the creation of a temporary investigative commission to investigate the situation around the restoration of Okhmatdet, as the scandals are destroying trust in Ukraine and calling into question the effectiveness of the use of international aid.
Current status
Now a new tender for the hospital’s reconstruction has not yet been held, and the charitable funds collected remain in the foundation’s accounts. The Ministry of Health promises a transparent new tender and an audit of the use of funds.
The situation around the rehabilitation of Okhmatdet demonstrates the need for transparency and accountability in the use of charitable funds and tenders, especially when it comes to the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure.
