Human resource provision in the rehabilitation system of Ukraine’s healthcare sector

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the human resource needs, and engagement of rehabilitation professionals within the healthcare system of Ukraine. Data on the professional education, training, and employment of rehabilitation professionals in Ukraine were obtained through requests to the Unified State Electronic Database on Education for the period 2015-2025 (as of September 2025) and the Electronic Healthcare System of the National Health Service of Ukraine (as of March 2025). Additional information on human resource in healthcare facilities at different levels was collected through direct information requests and an online survey. The assessment was conducted using indicators of admission and graduation in the specialty “Therapy and Rehabilitation,” the licensed capacity of the specialty, the titles of educational programs and their academic and teaching support; as well as healthcare facilities contracted with the National Health Service of Ukraine and the employment of rehabilitation professionals, including their number and occupied positions (physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and physicians of physical and rehabilitation medicine), their education, and continuing professional development. As of November 2025, training in the specialty “Therapy and Rehabilitation” was provided by 72 higher education institutions. Based on admission–graduation indicators, only approximately a half of bachelor graduates proceeded to master’s level education. A significant increase in the number of enrolments to educational programmes related to physical therapy and occupational therapy was observed during 2023-2025. As of March 2025, the specialization cycle “Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy” was implemented in 18 colleges/universities, which accounted for 42% (1,767 persons) of employed physical therapy assistants and 39% (1,052 persons) of occupational therapy assistants. The specialization cycles “Speech and Language Therapy” and “Prosthetics and Orthotics” were introduced in 2024-2025. The specialization “Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine” was completed by 5,754 individuals during 2019-2025 through specialization cycles and by 146 individuals through the internship program. Analysis demonstrates a pronounced imbalance between the different regions of Ukraine regarding both their contribution to education of the rehabilitation workforce and the subsequent employment of such professionals within the healthcare system. Analysis of the number of physical therapists and occupational therapists per 10,000 of population indicates a low level in almost all regions. The volume of staff turnover remains consistently high across all analysed rehabilitation professions, with the greatest numbers observed among occupational therapists. It was established that 71% to 80% of rehabilitation professionals in each group are employed in only one position. On average, 20-34% of such professionals combine two or more positions within the same institution, while for physicians of physical and rehabilitation medicine this proportion reaches 52%. Thus, the key challenges in ensuring adequate human resources in the rehabilitation system of healthcare and their employment include uneven quality of professional education, barriers to entry into the profession and retention within the healthcare system, and unjustified multiple job holding. The obtained results demonstrate the need for a revised, integrated state policy on rehabilitation workforce planning, which should take into account not only quantitative indicators of admission, graduation, and employment, but also forecast data, the quality of educational programs, actual labour market demand, demographic and regional factors, and motivational mechanisms for attracting and retaining personnel in professional education and the rehabilitation system.